SQL Server Managemet Studio not finding local server

Question

Here I think my local machine should be shown. But it is not shown. So I can't connect to it. What is the solution for this?

Solution

Go to Start Menu > All Programs > Microsoft SQL Server > Configuration Tools > SQL Server Configuration Manager and see that your SQL Server service is installed, up and running and what it's name is:

• if you don't find any entry under "SQL Server Services" that looks like SQL Server (instancename), then you don't have SQL Server (the engine, the core) installed

• if you find a value of SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) in your list and it's in State = Running, you should be able to connect to it using ., (local), or your-machine-name as the server/instance name

• if you find any other value (like SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) in my example), then you have a named instance and you can connect to it using .\instance-name, (local)\instance-name - e.g. .\SQLEXPRESS or (local)\SQLEXPRESS in this case

Comments

[marc_s]

Well, have you installed the SQL Server core (engine) on your local machine - or did you install only the management studio ?!?!

[chamathabeysinghe]

There is no items under SQL server services. So I think I have to reinstall SQL server. right??

[marc_s]

@user3888646: well, you probably never installed the core engine of SQL Server ... what exactly did you install? Which file did you download from Microsoft?

[chamathabeysinghe]

SQLManagementStudio_x86_ENU is the setup file. But this same setup works fine in my desktop PC without a problem.I didn't install any other file in that pc. This problem comes only in laptop.

[marc_s]

That is only the Management Studio - the GUI - but that does not contain the actual SQL Server core engine - you need to get and install that, too!!