I just installed Windows 7 64-bit with SQL Server 2008 Enterprise and VS
2008. When I try to create a connection to a database, and hit Refresh to
have the available servers show up, it only shows SQLEXPRESS but not
MSSQLSERVER. I went into the Configuration Manager and disabled SQLEXPRESS
and left only MSSQLSERVER running, and it still only shows SQLEXPRESS. If I
type in (local) as the server name, it will work (if I type in MSSQLSERVER,
it does not work). This happens everywhere I'm asked for a server name,
including e.g. when I log onto SSMS or when I try to set up a connection
string in VS. How do I get MSSQLSERVER to show up on the server list?
--
Ed

Ed (Ed (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com) writes:
To connect to the default instance, all you need to do is type a single
period for the server name, at least in SSMS.

MSSQLSERVER will not show up, because that is not the instance name. You
might see the name of your machine.

By the way, I would not expect it to be supported to run Enterprise
Edition on a workstation operating system.


--
Erland Sommarskog, SQL Server MVP, esquel (AT) sommarskog (DOT) 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

For a default instance, the instance name is the machine name. You can
manually type the machine name into the server name field for a connection.
After that, the next time you open the SSMS, the server name should appear
in the list.

Best regards,
Charles Wang

That works for SSMS. However, for example, when I'm in Visual Studio (2008
SP1), and I click on Solution Explorer->Project->Settings, and I try to enter
a Connection String, and I click the ellipsis (...), and I click the pulldown
menu for Server name, it's still not showing ASUS3 (the name of my PC). If I
manually type in "ASUS3" or "(local)" or ".", it will work, but it is
annoying that ASUS3 doesn't come down on the pulldown menu. I have another
PC operating the exact same operating system (Windows 7 64 bit) with the
exact same software included, and it does show the computer name (ASUS2 in
that case) on the pulldown menu.
--
Ed


""Charles Wang [MSFT]"" wrote:

A long shot guess. Is the SQL Server Browser service running? That's the
component that provides the SQL Server instance name to the client drop down
box in SSMS. But I don't know if VS queries the same way.
--
Rick Byham, MSFT
(Implies no warranty or rights)


"Ed" <Ed (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> wrote

What is the kind of project in your Solution Explorer?

Best regards,
Charles Wang