SQL Server Management Studio cannot connect using Windows Authentication

Question

I have installed SQL Server 2008 Management studio ONLY. When I tried connecting to my local server using Windows Authentication, I am not able to connect.

I don't remeber the instance name.

How to know the instance name of my SQL Server?

Secondly, i tried connecting using but there is an error: A network related instance occured...

(.), (local), local, .\sqlexpress

I also searched SO and got same results set.

Won't Management studio alone be enough to connect to local SQL?

What do you mean alone? If you want to connect to the "local server" it means you *have* a SQL installation too. — CyberDude, Nov 21 '11 at 13:35
By 'alone' i mean is something else required other than Management studio. I am sure that this is sufficient. Am i correct? — xorpower, Nov 21 '11 at 13:37
When you open the connect window, the last option in the server dropdown is "Browse for more". Does it find anything there? — CyberDude, Nov 21 '11 at 13:41
We are not learning how to install SQL, we are trying to figure out as to why isn't it we not able to connect to local db using windows authentication — xorpower, Nov 21 '11 at 14:16

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 21 '11 at 15:30

2

The browse for more in management studio should tell you your instance name. If nothing is there, try looking at your services and ensure that "SQL Server" service is started. If you have a named instance, it will also show you your named instance in the services console. So if it shows:

SQL Server (MYINSTANCE)

You connect using:

.\MYINSTANCE

answered Nov 21 '11 at 15:30

Paul

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I dont see any "SQL Server" service in my service list.Plus nothing appears under "browse for more" option in Management Studio. – xorpower Nov 22 '11 at 06:06
@Xorpower How do you now that you have an instance of SQL Server? – Igor Borisenko Nov 22 '11 at 08:00
I still don't know that i have instance of SQL Server and thats why in my queston i have mentioned that in Q1 – xorpower Nov 22 '11 at 08:30
If it isn't appearing in the service list then you don't have SQL Server running on your local machine. – Paul Nov 22 '11 at 09:39

SQL Server Management Studio cannot connect using Windows Authentication

1 Answers1