Hi Imar, I decided to start a new discussion on this topic since I might have some useful information for someone trying to install SQL Server 2008 Express Edition with Tools and Visual Studio 2008 and/or VWD 2008.

Here's a good article that might clear up some things when running Vista:
http://www.teamjohnston.net/blogs/je...-instance.aspx

More to come.

Kevin

Why not simply install as .\SqlExpress? Since it's the default, ASP.NET uses it also by default. Having .\SqlEpress makes web development a lot smoother....

Imar

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This is all so new to me Imar.

After countless googling I am up and running perfectly!

I un-installed everything SQL, re-installed SQL Server Express 2008 with Tools(ran into a little problem during installation, you need to download and install Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 (SP1) before you install SQL Express 2008 with Tools) after that, everything went perfect.

This problem has been haunting me for 2 weeks!

Hopefully everything will go smooth as work thru the book, as long as I set up SQL correctly.

I am able to connect in SQL Server Management Studio 2008 with (local)\sqlexpress and windows authentication, I think I'm good to go.

Thanks Imar for all your fast replies with much needed help for this newbie!

Cheers

Kevin

Hi Kevin,

You're welcome. Hope everything is going to keep running smoothly...

Imar

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Imar Spaanjaars
http://Imar.Spaanjaars.Com
Follow me on Twitter

Author of Beginning ASP.NET 4.5 : in C# and VB, Beginning ASP.NET Web Pages with WebMatrix
and Beginning ASP.NET 4 : in C# and VB.
Did this post help you? Click the button below this post to show your appreciation!