connect vb 2008 with sql server 2005 locally

Question

Hi,I'm trying to connect vb 2008 with sql server 2005 locally. I have the database at the same laptop but I always get an error. Here's my code:

Dim strconn As String 
strconn = "Integrated Security=SSPI;Persist Security Info=False;Initial Catalog=Database;Data Source=(local)" 
Try 
    Dim connection As New SqlClient.SqlConnection(strconn) 
    connection.Open() 
Catch ex As Exception 
    MessageBox.Show("failed") 
End Try 

If I run this, its going to prompt "Failed" messagebox. Is there any wrong with the code? What should I do

Answer 1

You should look at the error details (the ex object) for details on exactly why the connection failed:

MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString())

(I'm a curly-braces person, so my VB might be a little off)

Answer 2

The error message you posted clearly says that the server you defined in your connection string isn't available.

Is it possible you might be using a SQL Server Express edition? This gets installed along with Visual Studio 2008, if you don't explicitly uncheck that option in the installer.

The Express editions are installed by default as the SQLExpress instance, so your connection string would have to be something like:

server=(local)\SQLExpress;database=databaseName;integrated security=SSPI; 

in that case.