Question

Not sure what might have caused it, I ended task on some SQL processes in task manager then restarted the computer. Now I can no longer login to SQL Server 2008 R2. This is the error I get when attempting to login:

==================================

Cannot connect to JSMITH.

===================================

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: Named
Pipes Provider, error: 40 – Could not open a connection to SQL Server)
(.Net SqlClient Data Provider)

—————————— For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&EvtSrc=MSSQLServer&EvtID=2&LinkId=20476

—————————— Error Number: 2 Severity: 20 State: 0

—————————— Program Location:

at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnection.OnError(SqlException
exception, Boolean breakConnection) at
System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.ThrowExceptionAndWarning(TdsParserStateObject
stateObj) at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.Connect(ServerInfo
serverInfo, SqlInternalConnectionTds connHandler, Boolean
ignoreSniOpenTimeout, Int64 timerExpire, Boolean encrypt, Boolean
trustServerCert, Boolean integratedSecurity, SqlConnection
owningObject) at
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds.AttemptOneLogin(ServerInfo
serverInfo, String newPassword, Boolean ignoreSniOpenTimeout, Int64
timerExpire, SqlConnection owningObject) at
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds.LoginNoFailover(String
host, String newPassword, Boolean redirectedUserInstance,
SqlConnection owningObject, SqlConnectionString connectionOptions,
Int64 timerStart) at
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds.OpenLoginEnlist(SqlConnection
owningObject, SqlConnectionString connectionOptions, String
newPassword, Boolean redirectedUserInstance) at
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds..ctor(DbConnectionPoolIdentity
identity, SqlConnectionString connectionOptions, Object providerInfo,
String newPassword, SqlConnection owningObject, Boolean
redirectedUserInstance) at
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnectionFactory.CreateConnection(DbConnectionOptions
options, Object poolGroupProviderInfo, DbConnectionPool pool,
DbConnection owningConnection) at
System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.CreateNonPooledConnection(DbConnection
owningConnection, DbConnectionPoolGroup poolGroup) at
System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.GetConnection(DbConnection
owningConnection) at
System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionClosed.OpenConnection(DbConnection
outerConnection, DbConnectionFactory connectionFactory) at
System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.Open() at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.SqlStudio.Explorer.ObjectExplorerService.ValidateConnection(UIConnectionInfo
ci, IServerType server) at
Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.UI.ConnectionDlg.Connector.ConnectionThreadUser()

Answer 1

I would suggest to check the following:

1. Check if SQL Server service is running, if not check EventLog for any service-related errors.

2. Check that names pipes are enabled in Config Manager. You also might want to try switching to using TCP/IP instead. If you’re switching to TCP/IP, you’ll need to make sure that SQL Server Browser service is enabled/running as well.