Can not connect to SQL Express from a different computer

Hello,

I have the following problem: I can not connect to an instance of SQL Express from a computer different than the one that the SQL Express is installed on.

When trying to connect through Management Express Studio Express CTP I get the following error:

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TITLE: Connect to Server

Cannot connect to (nameofserver)\SQLEXPRESS.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

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: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified) (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: -1)

For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&EvtSrc=MSSQLServer&EvtID=-1&LinkId=20476

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I can connect to the Express instance without problems from the same computer on which the server is installed on.

SQL Express is installed on a computer running Windows 2003 with SP1.

That computer also has SQL Server 2000, Workgroup Edition installed.

Both, SQL Express and Management Studio have been downloaded form the MSDN web site last week (so, I believe, they're the latest available versions).

In the SQL Server Configuration Manager, under SQL Server 2005 Network Configuration -> Protocols for SQLEXPRESS, Shared Memory, Named Pipes and TCP/IP are enabled, VIA is disabled.

In the SQL Server Configuration Manager, under SQL Server 2005 Native Client Configuration -> Client Protocols, Shared Memory, Named Pipes and TCP/IP are enabled, VIA is disabled.

After enabling these protocols the computer was restarted.

SQL Server Browser service is running.

Both, SQL Server and SQL Server Browser, were set to run under the deafult NetworkService account during setup.

There is a warning in the Event Log (Application section) logged by the SQLBrowser which says:

The configuration of the AdminConnection\TCP protocol in the SQL instance SQLEXPRESS is not valid.

I've searched a lot and tried a lot of different things, but I have not been able to resolve this issue. Please help.

Have you checked the following link: http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlexpress/archive/2005/05/05/415084.aspx ?|||

Thanks for the link.

I have already tried all the things listed in the article multiple times (enabled protocols, SQL Browser Service running, there is no firewall on the server, I disabled firewall on the client when trying to connect).

(I haven't tried the registry thing because I'm dealing with the final relase of SQL Express and not the CTP.)

I believe my problem has to do with the warning that's logged by the SQL Server Browser service in the Event Log:

The configuration of the AdminConnection\TCP protocol in the SQL instance SQLEXPRESS is not valid.

I have found a couple of references to the same message on the Internet, but none of them offered a solution.

Any other suggestions?

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I am also seeing these same symptoms, except I'm just trying to access SQL Express from the same machine it is installed on. I've followed all of the suggested steps I could find, and still get the error message about configuration of AdminConnection\TCP protocol not being valid. I've also, in desperation, disabled the firewall altogether: that didn't change the behavior at all.

I can't get a TCP Connect to SQL Express to work to save my soul.