Ok, I'm about 12 hrs. into this install trying to figure out how to make a successfull db connection.  I'm a newbie, but man have I researched and google the heck out of all my problems. I'm very frustrated right now.

I'm running newest install: DotNetNuke_04.08.04_Install

Windows Vista Business on my Laptop

I have a SQL Express already installed on my machine: LOUIS-MOBILE\MSSMLBIZ   (this was there from Microsoft Business contact manager)
I'm running IIS 7.0

I finally got the install files to work from localhost\dotnetnuke - Install started and I've made it to this:
Message: 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: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified)

I've followed Install PDF / Dot Net Nuke for Dummies / Online Videos - but I can't get past SQL connection errors - I've had a few of them now with trying so many different options. 

I was first trying to connect to my DB in Sql Express and then read something on here about using the default web.config file and lettign DNN use the default DB in the App_data folder.  So, I just replaced the web.config file with the original - this did get me back to my original Install Wizard.  But now I'm stuck and very frustrated. 

I've also added the correct permissions found in the Install PDF to the IIS_IUSERs acct.

At this point, my web.config file is the defrault file found in the install.  I'm not sure what to do now. 
Can anyone help me out with this?  Man, I hope so... 

Totally down,

LR

Michael,

Thanks for the reply.  I did have all the options you mentioned enabled in the Server Configuration Manager, but I did not have TCP/IP only selected in the "Surface Area Configuration" area. 

So, I selected it and then restarted all my SQL services from within the Control Panel > Admin > Services area, but still to no evail.  And just to note, this is all I have for my current connection String:

I have also tried several iterations of this with adding my computer name in front of \Sqlexpress   --  using absolute path after AttachDBfilename=  -- etc.

Also -  I set up the DNN database in SQL Server Express and added the user, and then granted DBO Owner permissions to my newly set up DNN database.  After many many unsuccessful attempts to make a connection to that DB using my servername\Sqlexpress; databasename=UID;password=password - in the connection string, I logged back in to SQL Express via "SQL Server Management Studio Express" to reset the password for the user thinking I may have typed it incorrectly and I noticed the password (shown with ***********) was 4-5 characters longer than the one I set up.  So, I reset it again with  a 6 digit pass and then exited and then rechecked it, and the same thing - several characters longer.  Does SQL do this automitically for security or was my password not being saved?

Either way, my new string is not using the connection directly to the database I set up. 

Thanks again for response...     

Please let me know if you or anyone else sees something I'm doing wrong.

Thanks!

LR

Ok, one more time with the connection string this time.... (without the beginning and ending brackets so I could post it)

 add name="SiteSqlServer" connectionString="Data Source=.\SQLExpress;Integrated Security=True;User Instance=True;AttachDBFilename=|DataDirectory|Database.mdf;" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"