Can't login to SQL 2005 express edition through Mangerment Studio Express

Hi, all

I installed SQL 2005 express edition in my pc (Pro XP), then I can login from SQL 2005 Managerment Studio Express. After a few days later, I can't do it and an error message as belows:

An error has occurred while establishing a connection to the server. When connecting to SQL Server 2005, this failure may be caused by the fact that under the default settings SQL Server does not allow remote connections. (provider: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified) (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: -1)

It seems that the default setting does not allow remote connections, however, I connected it before and havn't change any setting. I try to reinstall the studio express but still not working.

Any idea / solution will be welcome.

Kevin Cheang

You are correct in that you need to enable remote connections for Express. Odd that you could connect before, but not now. Go ahead and enable remote connections and try again.

Thanks,
Sam Lester (MSFT)

Here's a previous reply for enabling connections:

You need to explicitly enable remote connections for SQL Express since they are off by default. You can enable them during install using the DISABLENETWORKPROTOCOLS flag:

(From template.ini)

;--
; The DISABLENETWORKPROTOCOLS switch is used to disable network protocol for SQL Server instance.
; Set DISABLENETWORKPROTOCOLS = 0; for Shared Memory= On, Named Pipe= On, TCP= On
; Set DISABLENETWORKPROTOCOLS = 1; for Shared Memory= On, Named Pipe= Off (Local Only), TCP= Off
; Set DISABLENETWORKPROTOCOLS = 2; for Shared Memory= On, Named Pipe= Off (Local Only), TCP= On

; Note: DISABLENETWORKPROTOCOLS if not specified has the following defaults.
; Default value for SQL Server Express/Evaluation/Developer: DISABLENETWORKPROTOCOLS =1
; Default value for Enterprise/Standard /Workgroup: DISABLENETWORKPROTOCOLS =2

or after install using TSQL or following this blog:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/914277

Thanks,
Sam Lester (MSFT)

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Hi, Sam

It is working now. Thanks for your quickly respone and solution. Best Regards, Kevin Cheang