I just fixed my computer here and there after I was facing some BSOD’s and when I now try to open up SQL Server using Windows Authentication, displays the following message and doesn’t login.
TITLE: Connect to Server
Cannot connect to SARIN-PC\SQLEXPRESS.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
A network-related or instance-specific
error occurred while establishing a
connection to SQL Server. The server
was not found or was not accessible.
Verify that the instance name is
correct and that SQL Server is
configured to allow remote
connections. (provider: SQL Network
Interfaces, error: 26 – Error Locating
Server/Instance Specified) (Microsoft
SQL Server, Error: -1)
I checked in the Configuration Manager, Named Pipes, Shared Memory and TCP/IP all are enabled. What went wrong now? 😐
Did you check SQL Server Configuration Manager->SQL Service(MSSQL). Is it runnig?
You also can check:
SQL Service(MSSQL)->Properties->Service->Host Name is eqals to “Service Name”
which you must enter when you start your MSSQL Manadgment Studio.
If it don`t help you can read this articlea http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sql_protocols/archive/2007/05/13/sql-network-interfaces-error-26-error-locating-server-instance-specified.aspx