Server-based databases not working

Question

Hey Guys,

I have install visual studio C# express edition.  When I tried to add a service-based database, I get this message: Connections to SQL Server files (*.mdf) require SQL Server Express 2005 to function properly.  Please verify the installation of the component or download from the URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=49251.  I have installed both Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and 2008, and it still does not work.  I have uninstalled and reinstalled the 2005 3
 times, and it still does not work.   Any idea what I should do?

Answer 1

If you install SQL Server Express after you install VS, VS may not be pointed at the right instance of SQL Server.   The local data functionality (so you can copy around MDFs like MDBs) is associated exclusively with SQL Server Express. 

Try uninstalling and installing SSE and then VS.

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Abhishek Shukla MCP WPF

Answer 2

I uninstalled and reinstalled Visual Studio and I'm still running into the same problem.

Answer 3

I appears that Visual studio is trying to connect to SQL Server Express edition. You need to change the default connection of Visual studio.

1. Open Visual Studio
2. Go To Tools --> Options
3. Go To Database Tools --> Data Connections
4. Change the name of the SQL Server instance to the name of the instance you have installed or leave it blank if it a default instance.

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Abhishek Shukla MCP WPF

Answer 4

Try this,

Data source: MS SQL server database file (sqlclient)
database filename: ...mdf [browse to the file with full path]

Note that the data source is using a service-based database (.mdf) via SQLExpress instancename.

uninstall both sqlsvr2005ee and sqlsvr2008ee. then install one of them and make sure the instancename is SQLEXPRESS.