Failed to generate user instance of SQL Server

arodrigu12 · January 29th, 2011, 02:26 PM

Imar,

I am running Windows XP Home Edition SP3, Microsoft SQL Sever 2008 R2 Express and Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2010 Express.

Here is the problem:

I succeeded in copying PlanetWrox.mdf to App_Data, but when I clicked on it, I go the following error message:

Failed to generate a user instance of SQL Server due to a failure in starting the process for the user instance. The connection will be closed.

Here is the connection string:

Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename="C:\Documents and Settings\Alfre\My Documents\Visual Studio 2010\WebSites\WebSite1\App_Data\PlanetWrox.mdf";In tegrated Security=True;User Instance=True

I suspect the problem that I am having has to do with the way that I configured the SQL Server, since I am a novice. From the SQL Server Configuration Manager, I see the SQLEXPRESS service is running under .\Alfre, which is an XP Limited Account.

I appreciate any help that you can give me regarding this.

Regards,
Al Rodriguez

Imar · January 30th, 2011, 05:48 AM

Hi there,

The problem might be caused by the location of the database. Notice how you have it under your Documents folder where it may not be accessible to other accounts.

Try moving the site to a location like the one suggested in the book (such as C:\BegASPNET\Website1) and try again. Does it work then?

Imar

arodrigu12 · January 30th, 2011, 12:05 PM

Imar,

Thanks for your prompt response. I tried your suggestion, but to no avail. Here is additional information from the log file:

2011-01-30 10:33:58.64 Logon Error: 15372, Severity: 16, State: 1.
2011-01-30 10:33:58.64 Logon Failed to generate a user instance of SQL Server due to a failure in starting the process for the user instance. The connection will be closed. [CLIENT: <local machine>]

Could the problem be related to the fact that the running instance of SQLEXPRESS service logs on as .\Alfre, an XP limited account? Is that the correct way to configure it?

Here is the new connection string:

Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=C:\BegASPNET\ testWebsite1\App_Data\PlanetWrox.mdf;Integrated Security=True;User Instance=True

Imar · January 30th, 2011, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Is that the correct way to configure it?

By default, SQL Server runs under the Network Service account. You could try that and see if it helps.

A few other tips:

1. Make sure the account used by SQL Server is able to read from and write to the App_Data folder as instructed in the book.

2. Try removing the User Instance attribute from the connection string and see if that helps.

3. Search Google for the exact error message you're getting. It's a common error with - unfortunately - many resolutions so it's hard to give exact advice here. Reading some articles about the problem and its solutions may put you in the right direction.

Cheers,

Imar

arodrigu12 · January 30th, 2011, 06:21 PM

I removed the User Instance attribute from the connection string and it worked, although I am not sure why.

Then I tried to create a SQL database from scratch using the template in VWD 2010 Express, I received a similar error, which I was able to correct by deleting the directory âc:\Documents and Settings\alfre\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server Data\SQLEXPRESS and rebooting. I hope this helps someone else and thanks a lot for our assistance.