DB cannot be opened because it is version 655. This server supports version 612

Question

I'm trying to do some excercises from exam 70-515. Unfortunately I fail while trying to attach Northwind to a grid-control. It would result in: NORTHWND.MDF' cannot be opened because it is version 655. This server supports version 612 and earlier. A downgrade path is not supported.

I use Windows 7 Home and MS Visual Web Developer 2010 Express. As fas as I understand this error, SQL Express must be an old version on my system. I downloaded and installed SQL Express 2008r2 from here. No effect. From other sources I figured out that I might need to change the instance name: Tools -> Options -> Database Tools -> Data Connections -> SQL Server Instance Name. There it is written SQLEXPRESS. I don't know what else I should insert there?

Solution 1

Turns out that deinstalling SQL Express and reinstall the latest version fixed the problem. I chose SQLSERVER2008 as Instance-Name while installing and set it in Visual Studio as described above.

Solution 2

Go to the Services control panel and look for a service named SQL Server (XXX) -- that XXX is the name of the instance that service is running. You just have to find the 2008R2 instance that you installed and type that into the "SQL Server Instance Name" box.