I am an Access programmer, and I am trying to expand my knowledge by
using SQL Server. I have installed SQL Server 2005 on my Win XP
laptop. For some reason I am unable to connect to the server. When I
try to open management studio I select database engine from the first
combo box, select the server name from the second combo box and use
Windows Authentication. I had created some test databases on the
server a few months ago. When I select options and go to the
connection properties tab, I am able to browse the server and select a
specific database to connect to. Upon hitting connect, I do not
receive an error and task manager shows the management studio running
fine. It looks like it is trying to connect, but nothing actually
happens. I can actually connect to the server from VB.Net
applications in Visual Studio.

I have enabled all protocols except for VIA. I can't think of
anything I have changed system-wise since I was able to connect
properly a few months ago. This is probably not nearly enough
information for troubleshooting, but I am not sure what I would need
to provide to you guys in order to start. I am completely at a loss
here. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Ascerbus (timmydunne@gmail.com) writes:
> I am an Access programmer, and I am trying to expand my knowledge by
> using SQL Server. I have installed SQL Server 2005 on my Win XP
> laptop. For some reason I am unable to connect to the server. When I
> try to open management studio I select database engine from the first
> combo box, select the server name from the second combo box and use
> Windows Authentication. I had created some test databases on the
> server a few months ago. When I select options and go to the
> connection properties tab, I am able to browse the server and select a
> specific database to connect to. Upon hitting connect, I do not
> receive an error and task manager shows the management studio running
> fine. It looks like it is trying to connect, but nothing actually
> happens. I can actually connect to the server from VB.Net
> applications in Visual Studio.
>
> I have enabled all protocols except for VIA. I can't think of
> anything I have changed system-wise since I was able to connect
> properly a few months ago. This is probably not nearly enough
> information for troubleshooting, but I am not sure what I would need
> to provide to you guys in order to start.

What happens if you skip selecting a database, but just press Connect
when you get the dialog?


--
Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, esquel@sommarskog.se

Links for SQL Server Books Online:
SQL 2008: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/cc514207.aspx
SQL 2005: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/bb895970.aspx
SQL 2000: http://www.microsoft.com/sql/prodinf...ons/books.mspx

On Wed, 3 Sep 2008 00:52:26 -0700 (PDT), Ascerbus wrote:

>I am an Access programmer, and I am trying to expand my knowledge by
>using SQL Server. I have installed SQL Server 2005 on my Win XP
>laptop. For some reason I am unable to connect to the server. When I
>try to open management studio I select database engine from the first
>combo box, select the server name from the second combo box and use
>Windows Authentication. I had created some test databases on the
>server a few months ago. When I select options and go to the
>connection properties tab, I am able to browse the server and select a
>specific database to connect to. Upon hitting connect, I do not
>receive an error and task manager shows the management studio running
>fine. It looks like it is trying to connect, but nothing actually
>happens.

Hi Ascerbus,

What makes you think that it's trying to connect. Do you get any error
messages? Is the connect dialog box still visible, or does it disappear?

What panes exactly are in view after you have clicked the connect
button, and what is in these panes?

--
Hugo Kornelis, SQL Server MVP
My SQL Server blog: http://sqlblog.com/blogs/hugo_kornelis