SQL Server database attachment problem

Question

I have an ASP.NET web application build using VWD 2008 and using SQL Server Express. When I start my application from within VWD 2008 (i.e., using the ASP.NET development server), it works fine. However, when I close VWD 2008 and try to load the application using IIS 5.1, it fails with this error:

An attempt to attach an auto-named database for file failed. A database with the same name exists, or specified file cannot be opened, or it is located on UNC share.

Here is my connection string:

<add name="Version013ConnectionString"
     connectionString="Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;
     AttachDbFilename=&quot;C:\MyFilepath\App Name\App_Data\Version013a.mdf&quot;
     Integrated Security=True;Connect Timeout=30;
     User Instance=True" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"/>

I'm aware that this issue crops up quite regularly on the forums - I've spent quite a while reading them and trying different ideas, with no success.

As I say, I don't understand why it works under ASP.NET dev server but not under IIS. My guess is there's some sort of permissions issue, but that's just a guess and I'm open to any suggestions.

TIA,

Paul

Answer 1

Any chance this has something to do with permissions? This may be the difference between your credentials and the ASPNET account.

Answer 2

Just to clarify (more for my own benefit than anyone else's, I suspect):

• I created a db using SQL Server Express.

  I put it in the app_data folder of my asp.net application.

  I point to it using the connection string shown above.

  I start the app from VWD 2008, everything works fine.

  I start the app directly from the browser using localhost, and I get the database error described above.

The only difference is that I'm using two different servers, so it has to be down to permissions, doesn't it?