Connection to SQL Server 2005 database from VB 2005 Express problem, please help

Where is the .mdf file located?

Thank you for your answers.

Unfortunately, the Data Source has .\MSSQLSERVER or .\SQLEXPRESS to choose from and .\MSSQLSERVER does not solve the problem.

The .mdf file is in the following path (local hard disk):

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data\

It may be something basic, since I am beginner.

This time the error message was different:

An error has occurred while establishing a connection to the server. When connecting to SQL Server 2005, this failure may be caused by the fact that under the default settings SQL Server does not allow remote connections. (provider: SQL Network Interfaces,error: 25 - Connection string is not valid)

Well, for all the other newbies (I am a newbie to MS SQL stuff, but not to SQL, I am a PHP/MySQL programmer) here is how I was able to connect to this #$@!$!!:mad: MS SQL Server 2005 Express.

Installing the SQL server (get the MS SQL Server with Advanced Services and choose to install Server Management Studio Express along with the SQL server):

instance name: leave as default named instance SQLExpress -this is VERY IMPORTANT later...

service account: choose built in system, local acct. Also request SQL server and SQL browser be started when the system starts.

auth mode: choose Windows auth mode

When finished installing, check that SQL server is running. Right click on My Computer, choose manage, and under services find the SQL services config manager, choose sql 2005 services, and check that your SQL server instance is running.

Download and install SQL Server Management Studio Express if you did not already install it as part of the SQL express install.

Run SQL Server Management Studio Express.
VERY VERY important: server connection string is Computer Name\sqlexpress

Pray a small prayer.

Connect to database.

where do i specify the computer name\sqlexpress? the advance properties windoe won't allow me to change the value of the data source.

i tried visual basic to open my database file on the sql server folder but i get the error that "may be caused by the fact that under the default settings SQL Server does not allow remote connections."

so, i copied the database files (mdf and ldf) on to the folder, C:\Documents and Settings\windowsuser\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server Data\SQLEXPRESS, where i think visual basic looks for the database files. i've tested it but it didn't work. same error.

visual basic has detected that i have sql express and sql server installed but it won't let me change the value to workstation\sqlexpress on the advance window.

In the install, the default name should already by sqlexpress if you are installing sql server 2005 express...

Try this Guys......
The problem occurs when trying to connect using server explorer...

Delete the connection in Server Explorer, then did Add Connection and, in the Choose Data Source dialog, instead of selecting SQL Server Database File (which would sound right) select <other> and then, in the Data provider field, selected .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server. Pressing Enter resulted in a different dialog box, than had select SQL Server Database File. After this its all downhill. Then select the server, choose Windows Authentication and click on Test Connection - It will connect now!!!!

Remember this solution may or may not work for you. I should also mention that the database appears in the Data Connections list with a .dbo at the end, which was not the case before.

One other difference is that the connection string now contains
Data Source=<myservername> instead of server=(local) or server=.\MSSQLSERVER, which was there before.

Hope it will work for you......

The other option is not coming, may be u r using sqlexpress within the VS2005

Just this this link...it may help u...

http://www.aquesthosting.com/HowTo/Sql2005/SQLError26.aspx