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broken link fixed, cf. https://meta.stackoverflow.com/a/406565/4751173
Glorfindel
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How do I troubleshoot error 26: "Error Locating Server/Instance Specified"

I'm trying to configure TCP access to my SQL Server named instance (named SQL2012). I use management studio to connect to the database engine. I type in the server name: "tcp:localhost\SQL2012" and I receive this error message:

(provider: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified)

This post by the SQL Server team seems to be really useful, in it they suggest testing out the SqlBrowser service using PortQry. When I do, I get this info:

Querying target system called:

 localhost

Attempting to resolve name to IP address...


Name resolved to 127.0.0.1

querying...

UDP port 1434 (ms-sql-m service): LISTENING or FILTERED

Sending SQL Server query to UDP port 1434...

Server's response:

ServerName MSWART7
InstanceName SQL2012
IsClustered No
Version 11.0.5058.0
tcp 52329

   ♥K   K P☺K 5 - 2 1 qK 1 4  rK 8 7 0☺    1 qK

==== End of SQL Server query response ====

And sure enough, I'm able to connect to the database when I specify the server name "tcp:localhost,52329"

I'm not sure what I'm missing. SQL Browser seems to be functioning and ports and firewalls seem to be open or irrelevant (I'm trying to connect to localhost).

Where do I look next?

Michael J Swart
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