Installation Error in Microsoft Visual Studio 2010

Question

User1316246260 posted

I have just added Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 to a previously existing VWD Express. 

When I refresh the SQL database I get this error in both vs2010 and VWD:

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)

Answer 1

User281315223 posted

If the issue is related to the actual installation itself, you can generally try running the installer with administrative privileges (e.g. Right-click > Run as Administrator) or if it is occurring while running Visual Studio, you could try just running it as an administrator as well.

A bit of quick research on that issue directed me to the following set of troubleshooting tips to check out for this issue :

1. Make sure your database engine is configured to accept remote connections:
   • Start > All Programs > SQL Server 2005 > Configuration Tools > SQL Server Surface Area Configuration
   • Click on Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections
   • Select the instance that is having a problem > Database Engine > Remote Connections
   • Enable local and remote connections
   • Restart instance
   • See More At: 7 things to check to resolve "A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server…"
2. You may need to create an exception on the firewall for the SQL Server instance and port you are using:
   • Start > Run > Firewall.cpl
   • Click on exceptions tab
   • Add sqlservr.exe
     • typically located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.x\MSSQL\Bin
   • Add the port (default is 1433)
   • Check your connection string as well
3. Check if your SQL server services is up and running properly:
   • Go to All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2008 > Configuration Tools > SQL Server Configuration Manager > SQL Server Services
   • Check to make sure SQL Server service status is Running
4. Ensure that your remote server is in the same network:
   • Open your command prompt and Run sqlcmd -L to ascertain if your server is included in your network list.
   • See More At: Using sqlcmd – Detect Installed SQL Server on Network
5. Enable TCP/IP in SQL Server Configuration:
   • Go to All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server 2008 > Configuration Tools > SQL Server Configuration Manager > Select TCP/IP.
   • Right click and select enable

You can find some additional references related to this issue below :

• 7 things to check to resolve "A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server…"
• FIX : ERROR : Could not open a connection to SQL Server
• Using sqlcmd – Detect Installed SQL Server on Network

or read a bit more about this conversation here.

Answer 2

User2103319870 posted

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

Looks like your code cannot find the Server or Instance name mentioned in your connection string. Please check your connection strings again and ensure the below points

1) Make sure your server name is correct, e.g., no typo on the name. 
2) Make sure your instance name is correct and there is actually such an instance on your target machine.

Some time you may need to give  double slashes between server and instance (Server\Instance), so if you have single slash and if you are facing issue try with double slashes like  Server\\Instance

Check this link for more details : http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sql_protocols/archive/2007/05/13/sql-network-interfaces-error-26-error-locating-server-instance-specified.aspx