Awesomeful

(Very old news, but I keep having to go back to this)

If your SQL client (ie: SQL Server Mangement Studio, Toad, Embarcadero, etc) can't connect to a MS SQL Server 2005 Express Edition installation, follow these steps:

• Launch SQL Server Configuration Manager

• Click on SQL Server 2005 Network Configuration

• Click on Protocols for MSSERVER => right click on TCP/IP => properties

• Click on Protocols, make sure it is enabled

• Click on IP Addresses and make sure under each of the IP1, IP2 and IPAll, that the port is 1433

• Click on SQL Native Client Configuration

• Click on Client protocols => TCP/IP => right click => Properties => make sure the port is 1433

• Right click on Alias => New alias => Alias: any name. Port:1433.Server`: host name for the SQL Server Express instance

• Try to connect