I'm trying to connect from a client pc using Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition to a server on the same network.



When I'm within Visual Basic 2005, and try to connect to the database using the Data Source Configuration Wizard. I'm able to go through all the screens (and select the database I want ). I then get this message:


The file "F:\MSSQL\Data\northwnd.mdf" failed. A database with the same name exists, or the specified file can not be opened, or it is located on a UNC share.


I tried to register a request with Microsoft using the product ID that came with the book and that was not accepted by them.

I have two pcs.
1) The client has Windows 2000 as an operating system and Visual Basic 2005 Express edition.
2) The server has Windows 2003, with an instance of SQL server 2000 on it.

(both pcs belong to the same domain, and I'm logging in as the administrator on both machines (with the same password). The drive and folder where the SQL database is, is fully shared with all authenticated Windows users).

There is no other database on the server with that name.
When I log onto the server directly, I can access the data.

I can browse the network and access all files using My Computer on the client pc. So I can't see why it's not working using Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition.

Anyone with any ideas, thank you.

I'm brand new to any of this so please forgive me if this is a dumb idea, but have you tried downloading and installing the current build from the microsoft web site? Just a thought, maybe something has been tweaked or fixed since the Cd's for the book were burned.

Xen_Blue thanks for the suggestion, your help is appreciated.