SQL Server 2008 & Visual Web Developer 2008 express editions: Connection to DB Fail!

Question

So I saw this question/comment...

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1625991/how-to-integrate-sql-server-2005-express-edition-to-visual-web-developer-2008-exp/1626114#1626114

And this is EXACTLY what I am having trouble with, only using SQL Server 2008 express edition and Visual Web Dev 2008 express. Everytime I try to click to add a new database I get the exact same error code.

I tried the response on the other question, and this did not solve the problem for me.

PLEASE HEEEEEELLLPP!!! Thanks

EDIT:

I should note that these are installed on my home laptop for learning purposes.

The instance must have been a named instance, though I am not sure of what that is. When I load it up, and select the connect: the "server name" appear as 'JUSTIN-PC\SQLEXPRESS' though I am not sure this is what is referred to as the instance name.

I did try this though in the visual studio data connection field, and it did not work, so I am assuming this is not right. So I am reading help on it but really lost...although it looks like it probably assigned a named instance for me, though I do not know what that was.

Thanks for helping the rookies learn!!

Answer 1

Did you try putting just SQLEXPRESS in the VS database settings? I'm not sure if it works properly with the host name in front. Mine at home just says SQLEXPRESS.

Answer 2

If you adding a database to the App_Data folder (rather than creating the database in SQL Management Studio), you are probably getting a conflict between the version of SQL you have installed and the one that Visual Studio expects. This is my current situation at work where I have Visual Studio 2008 Team and SQL Server 2008 - because I do not develop using App_Data, it doesn't really bother me.

Couple of things to try:

• Check if there are any service packs for your express edition
• Try uninstalling everything, then install sql server, then install visual studio
• Uninstall everything, let the express install sql server express for you
• Create the database in management studio and using the server explorer, create your tables and whatever else in visual studio