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I am trying to connect to the server in SQL SERVER 2012, but every time it shows this error:

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) (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 53)

I am connecting using aviral\SQLEXPRESS
MY PC name- aviral
I am using Windows authentication.

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Sounds like your sql express installation is on your local development machine? If so, you could try connecting using the following server name: 127.0.0.1\SQLEXPRESS – Max Vernon Aug 28 '12 at 16:16
I'm not sure this will help anyone else as it seems a very specific problem - closing as TL – Jack Douglas♦ Aug 28 '12 at 17:25

closed as too localized by Aaron Bertrand, Jack Douglas♦ Aug 28 '12 at 17:25

This question is unlikely to help any future visitors; it is only relevant to a small geographic area, a specific moment in time, or an extraordinarily narrow situation that is not generally applicable to the worldwide audience of the internet. For help making this question more broadly applicable, see the FAQ.

1 Answer

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Your server name should be:

aviral\SQLEXPRESS

Or:

.\SQLEXPRESS

You added a dot for some reason, and your slash is facing the wrong way.

But first you need to make sure SQL Server is even installed.

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I installed it for the first time..and I checked in SQL configuration that TCP is enabled. What else should I check? – aviral Aug 28 '12 at 15:55
Can you update your question to show the server name you are now trying to connect as, and confirm that you are still getting the same error message? Can you also confirm that you checked that the service is running in Start > Programs > Microsoft SQL Server > Configuration Tools > SQL Server Configuration Manager? – Aaron Bertrand Aug 28 '12 at 15:58
now I am using aviral\SQLEXPRESS. Yes I am getting the same message..yes I checked it from there. TCP/IP is enabled – aviral Aug 28 '12 at 16:00
thank you for the detailed explanation.But there is nothing being shown in my services. I guess I will have to reinstall it. – aviral Aug 28 '12 at 16:21
Nothing is showing in your services? Then how can you be sure SQL Server is even installed? – Aaron Bertrand Aug 28 '12 at 16:27
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