SQL Server can't connect to database

  • I downloaded file SQLEXPRADV_x86_ENU.exe (version 10.00.1600.22), and used it to install SQL Server 2008 Express with Advanced Services, which I think has capabilities comparable to SQL Server 2008 Enterprise. Upon install, all Prerequisite conditions were met, and installation was completed with no failures.

    This version of SQL Server includes SQL Server 2008 Management Studio Express. The Management Studio doesn't show in Add or Remove Programs, and there's no icon for it on my desktop, but it does appear at Start | All Programs | Microsoft SQL Server 2008 | SQL Server Management Studio.

    I then downloaded file SQL2008.AdventureWorks_All_Databases.x86.msi, and attempted to use ot to install AdventureWorks Sample Databases for SQL Server 2008.

    I got the following error:

    "PrepInstance() failed for MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS.

    The following features are missing: Full Text Search

    Fix the problems and re-run setup."

    When I ran the Management Studio, it said:

    Server type:Database Engine

    Server name:NULL\SQLEXPRESS

    Authentication:Windows Authentication

    and gave me the following error:

    "Could not connect to NULL\SQLEXPRESS. Server not found or not accessible."

    I guess this must be because NULL is not a valid directory.

    Now the Server name is just coming up blank.

    Any help?

  • http://techpunch.wordpress.com/2008/08/29/sql-server-2008-installing-the-adventureworks-sample-databases/

    Follow the URL for instructions on installing Adventureworks. You'll need to add Full text to your existing install in order for Adventureworks install to succeed. You also need to right click, run as administrator when running the exe.

    You can put your computername\SQLEXPRESS in management studio to connect, or ".\SQLEXPRESS" to connect.

  • I tried SQLEXPRESS, \SQLEXPRESS & .\SQLEXPRESS, to no avail. I'll try the link you gave & let you know how that worked out.

  • first, lets make sure you know the name of the instance, and the instance is actually running.

    It's quite possible you installed the Tools but not the service itself, or the service is disabled or not running.

    Go To your Control panel>>Administrative Tools>>Services.

    Scroll down to "SQL" in alphabetical order for the Name Column.

    you should see one or more items, similar to this:

    in the above example, I have FOUR SQL server instances; their names are in parenthesis if they are an instance, otherwise the default instances is named(MSSQLSERVER)

    If you don't see something that says SQL Server (SomeNthingHere), SQL is NOT installed.

    If you do see something on your side, do you see one that is really named SQLEXPRESS or is it something else?

    Next, look at the column that says "Status": does it say "Started" or is it blank?

    If it's blank, right click and select "Start"; if it fails, the account in the "lo On As may be a problem,

    If the Start Selection is grayed out, then The service is probably Disabled (see the "Startup Type" column.

    let us know what you

    Lowell


    --help us help you! If you post a question, make sure you include a CREATE TABLE... statement and INSERT INTO... statement into that table to give the volunteers here representative data. with your description of the problem, we can provide a tested, verifiable solution to your question! asking the question the right way gets you a tested answer the fastest way possible!

  • Hi, Lowell -

    Thanks for replying.

    Under Control panel>>Administrative Tools>>Services, I'm seeing:

    SQL Active Directory Helper Service

    SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS)

    SQL Server Agent (SQLEXPRESS)

    SQL Server Browser

    SQL Server VSS Writer

    The status of SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) was blank. I right-clicked on it and selected Start, but I got the following message:

    "Could not start the SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) service on Local Computer.

    Error 5: Access is denied."

    Any suggestions?

  • Best guess is that the account that you are using to run sql does not have access to the directory where the datebase files are located. ie c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\DATA\master.mdf

    IF you using default paths you would find your sql log here: c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\log\ERRORLOG

    You should find more details there of what is happening.

  • Hi, eccentricDBA -

    c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\log\ERRORLOG

    is not found. I don't understand any of this. Maybe I should just study a tutorial on the subject. Any recommendations?

  • You need to troubleshoot the reason for SQL Express engine not starting up and running. You can find why in the SQL Errorlog.

    To find where your errorlog is, do the following:

    Open "SQL Server Configuration Manager"

    Click SQL Server Services in the left pane tree

    Right click on "SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS)" in the right pane and select "Properties"

    Click the "Advanced" tab

    Click in the Startup Parameters box, then click the drop down arrow in the same box.

    You will see a string of text, something like

    "-dC:\MSSQL\MSSQL\DATA\master.mdf;-eC:\MSSQL\MSSQL\Log\ERRORLOG;-lC:\MSSQL\MSSQL\DATA\mastlog.ldf"

    The errorlog location is after the -e parameter.

    Post your error log here if you can.

  • Hi foxxo -

    Under SQL Server Configuation Manager | SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) | Properties | Advanced, I don't see any Startup Parameters box. All I see is a bunch of stuff that's mostly grayed out, with the following exceptions which aren't grayed out:

    ClusteredNo

    Customer Feedback ReportingNo

    Dump DirectoryC:\Program files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\LOGError ReportingNo

  • can you edit the SQL Server(SQLEXPRESS) service, and change the startup account?

    Change it form whatever is there, to your username and password, for example, and then start the service?

    Lowell


    --help us help you! If you post a question, make sure you include a CREATE TABLE... statement and INSERT INTO... statement into that table to give the volunteers here representative data. with your description of the problem, we can provide a tested, verifiable solution to your question! asking the question the right way gets you a tested answer the fastest way possible!

  • Hi, Lowell -

    Sorry for the delay; I was away.

    I've never seen the window you show

    SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) Properties (Local Computer)

    and I don't know how to get to it.

    I had downloaded and installed SQL Server 2008 Express with Advanced Services (which is free, so I'm not doing anything underhanded here), and in that process I was never assigned or informed of any account that I needed in order to use SQL Server, so although I could of course supply my own email address, I have no password for SQL Server.

    I CAN get to

    Start | All Programs | Microsoft SQL Server 2008 | Configuration Tools | SQL Server Configuration Manager | SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) | Properties

    which has the following tabs: Log On, Service, FILESTREAM and Advanced.

    In Log On:

    Under "Built-in account", I've tried Local System, Local Service and Network Service, and in each case, when I hit "Apply", access is denied.

    Under "This account", a nondisplayed 16-character password is provided, but as soon as I try to enter my email address as the account name, the password disappears.

    I've searched for error logs for SQL Server, but can find none on my hard drive.

    Bear in mind that I'm new to all this, and I really don't know what I'm doing, although I am of course willing to do whatever I need to do to learn SQL.

    Any suggestions?

  • Hi, Lowell -

    Sorry for the delay; I was away.

    I've never seen the window you show

    SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) Properties (Local Computer)

    and I don't know how to get to it.

    I had downloaded and installed SQL Server 2008 Express with Advanced Services (which is free, so I'm not doing anything underhanded here), and in that process I was never assigned or informed of any account that I needed in order to use SQL Server, so although I could of course supply my own email address, I have no password for SQL Server.

    I CAN get to

    Start | All Programs | Microsoft SQL Server 2008 | Configuration Tools | SQL Server Configuration Manager | SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) | Properties

    which has the following tabs: Log On, Service, FILESTREAM and Advanced.

    In Log On:

    Under "Built-in account", I've tried Local System, Local Service and Network Service, and in each case, when I hit "Apply", access is denied.

    Under "This account", a nondisplayed 16-character password is provided, but as soon as I try to enter my email address as the account name, the password disappears.

    I've searched for error logs for SQL Server, but can find none on my hard drive.

    Bear in mind that I'm new to all this, and I really don't know what I'm doing, although I am of course willing to do whatever I need to do to learn SQL.

    Any suggestions?

  • HERE IS MY THIRD ATTEMPT TO REPLY TO LOWELL. LET'S SEE IF SQL SERVER CENTRAL WILL ALLOW ME TO POST MY REPLY THIS TIME.

    Hi, Lowell -

    Sorry for the delay; I was away.

    I've never seen the window you show

    SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) Properties (Local Computer)

    and I don't know how to get to it.

    I had downloaded and installed SQL Server 2008 Express with Advanced Services (which is free, so I'm not doing anything underhanded here), and in that process I was never assigned or informed of any account that I needed in order to use SQL Server, so although I could of course supply my own email address, I have no password for SQL Server.

    I CAN get to

    Start | All Programs | Microsoft SQL Server 2008 | Configuration Tools | SQL Server Configuration Manager | SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) | Properties

    which has the following tabs: Log On, Service, FILESTREAM and Advanced.

    In Log On:

    Under "Built-in account", I've tried Local System, Local Service and Network Service, and in each case, when I hit "Apply", access is denied.

    Under "This account", a nondisplayed 16-character password is provided, but as soon as I try to enter my email address as the account name, the password disappears.

    I've searched for error logs for SQL Server, but can find none on my hard drive.

    Bear in mind that I'm new to all this, and I really don't know what I'm doing, although I am of course willing to do whatever I need to do to learn SQL.

    Any suggestions?

  • WHY THE HELL WON'T SEQ SERVER CENTRAL LET ME POST A REPLY TO LOWELL?! I'VE BEEN TRYING FOR DAYS!!

  • Suddenly all my posts have shown up - go figure...

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