Hi,

I've been trying to install DNN (4.09.04) by following Lee's excellent videos 1,2, and 3 but I keep getting this error;

An error has occurred while establishing a connection to the server.  When connecting to SQL Server 2005, this failure may be caused by the fact that under the default settings SQL Server does not allow remote connections. (provider: Named Pipes Provider, error: 40 - Could not open a connection to SQL Server)

I've checked to make sure the SQL Authentication is checked in SQL Management Express, the permissions are all set, checked settings in Surface area Manager and still no luck, been battling with this for 2 weeks, it's driving me crazy !!
BTW it's a local setup, no remote connections required. Have checked Firewall settings and included exceptions.
One thing I did notice, in SSMSE, when you right click on the server name then click on properties, then "view connection properties" I can see the Authentication Method is = Windows Authentication. I read somewhere that it should be SQL Authentication ? but where do I change this ?
BTW the "Allow remote connections on this server" is ticked. I am really stuck here can't make any progress (complete novice) would be very gratefull for a step by step guide to SQL 2005 Express setup (if that's where the problem is)

My setup;
XPpro SP3
SQL Server 2005 Express
SQL Server Management Studio Express 

Thanks, Pete

With SSME, see if you can connect to the database using SQL Quthentication and the Username/Password that you are using in your connection string.

There is a configuration setting in SQL Server that must be set to allow "Mixed" authentication.  Without it only Windows authentication is allowed.

If you can connect using SSME and SQL Authentication, you should be able to use those same parameters in your connection string.  These can be set using the setup wizard.

Hi Joe, thanks for the reply.

I tried connecting to the database in SSME via SQL Authentication but no luck, it wouldn't connect only via windows Authentication.
Am I doing some wrong here? Following Lee's videos to the letter it doesn't mention anything about setting up databases or connection strings, I thought, going by the tutorial that the DotNetNuke install process would allow me to configure such items during the install process? I know how to setup a new database & new user in SSME and change the config file if that's what I've got to do, I'm just worried I'm doing things in the wrong order or missing something completely.
BTW when I re-installed SQL Server 2005 Express it showed a window with radio buttons for authentication, so I made sure the "Mixed" authentication button was checked. Tried to install DNN again but got the same error as above. I know I must be doing something stupid, just need a step by step setup for the server for a newbie!!
Thanks in advance
Pete

Your problem is with the SQL Server setup, not with DotNetNuke.  I'll try looking later, but ... try the Configuration Tool and go through all of the options.

Thanks for the reply Joe, I tinkered around in SSME created a new database and login and when I login via SQL Server Authentication I can see the connection properties for the login is now the SQL Authentication, I changed my connection strings etc in webconfig file to reflect these settings and DNN successfully installed (Typical Install method). One thing I did notice, when the dreaded check connections page comes up, there is 2 radio buttons, one for SQL 2005 Express and the other is SQL 2005, the connection test passed for SQL 2005 but not SQL 2005 Express. Does this mean my connection string settings in the config file is not quite correct, does it matter?
I appreciate your time Joe.
Pete

If you site passed the connections check, then all is well.

There are two formats for the connection string, depending on the server.  That is why there are the radio buttons.

The only thing that the Wizard does in that step is create the connection strings for web.config and test them.