Cannot connect SQL server 2005 Express with VWD 2005

I have installed MS Visual Web Developer 2005 Express Edition on my Notebook (WinXP Pro SP2). And it's working fine. Then I tried installed SQL Server 2005 Express Edition SP1. There is no error during installation and it seems to be working as I can see the SQL Server (MSSQLServer) service is running. As SQL server configulation manager., the protocal shared memory , named Pipes and TCP/IP are enabled.

But when I want to add connection using VWD 2005 by pointing to datasource (MS SQL Server database file and selecing file from .mdf file from SQL sample database file. Then test connection, I got a error that
"An error has occurred while establishing a conneciton to the server. when connecting to SQL server 2005, this failure may be casued the the fact that under the default settings SQL server does not allow remote connections. (provider: SQL Interfaces, error: 26- Error locating server/instance specified)

Can you please advise what the missing part of my configulation ?

Thanks

hi,

did you elect to enable User Instances at SQLExpress install time?

you can enable them at later time "configuring" the instance via the apposite
EXEC sp_configure
statement

regards

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This is most likely caused by having the wrong Instance name configured in VWD. You wrote that your could see MSSQLSERVER, which the name of the Default Instance for SQL Server. Normally SQL Express installs to a Named Instance rather than the Default Instance. Did you specifically chose to install the Default Instance when you installed SQL Express?

If so, your problem is that VWD is configured to use a Named Instance of SQLEXPRESS by default. You will need to go into the Tools | Options dialog and look at the Data options. (You may need to show all options to see this.) Once there, you will see a text box where you can set the instance of SQL Express to be used, it will likely say "SQLEXPRESS" and you need to change it to the actual name of your instance.

Mike

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Mike,

You are correct.

Big Thanks for advise.

Pitak