I can connect asp.net applications to my databases in SQL Server 2008, however when I try to do the same from Visual Studio in a Winforms application, I always get the error:
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)"
I use the connection string:
SqlConnection Conn = new SqlConnection(@"Server=.\\myserver address\user;Database=testDatabase");
and I get an error when my form loads as that is when I start the connect.
I have gone to my SQL Server Configuration Manager and I get this:
So I do not know what I am doing wrong. There are previous files for older versions of SQL Server in the program files however I do not see how they could affect it...
My sql services
I would also like to add that I added sql server to the firewall exceptions already