2008 Express Edition missing Data drivers?

[B. Chernick]

I just started doing some basic exercises with Visual Basic 2008 Express
Edition (Version 9.0.21022.8 RTM, Microsoft .NET Framework Version 3.5) and I
do not seem to have what I would call routine data drivers installed.
Initially, I only want to connect to a Northwinds db in my local SQL Server
2000 instance but the only drivers available are Microsoft Access DataBase
file, Microsoft Sql Server Compact 3.5, and Microsoft SQL Server Database
File. I don't need Access and the other two don't seem to create db
connections in a manner I am familiar with.

What am I missing and how do I add it? Or is it impossible to do 'normal'
database connections in the Express version?

 

[Miro]

You cannot connect to a (local)\filename.mdf file or a .\filename.mdf

I had the same issue a while ago.

Search the newsgroup by a posting by me on Feb 14th 2008 at 2:56 am... here
is the copy and paste below:

MSDN Link is provided
I beleive this has changed since the 2005 version of express... you can
still download the version of 2005 by going to the express download and you
should notice an icon for 2005 on the top left.
I have not re-downloaded...i just started using the full path for the file.
It really is a pain in the butt when you have a 2005 book to learn on 2008.

Take note!!! the express version of asp.net allows the ( local )\connection
as you are connecting differently.


======
I think I found the posts I was looking for:

http://forums.microsoft.com/MSDN/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=2615612&SiteID=1

Express editions do not let you connect to a (local)\SQLExpress\

They only allow you to connect straight to a local file.

Sorry for all the posts everyone,

Hopefully these posts and this one will help any new newbies out so they
dont go thru the headache like I did.

Miro

======= end of paste

 

[B. Chernick]

I should have mentioned that my main intent was to try Linq. Looks like I'll
have to do it in Web Developer Express 2008. (looks like normal drivers
there)

Thanks.

 

[Miro]

Yup,
Before I found the post I thought I had installed vb.2008 express wrong
because I seen it in the asp 2008
So I uninstalled everything and re-installed it.

It would have been nice for it to 'show it there' but grey'd out and have
some kind of a message box as to 'its disabled on purpose'

Cheers'

Miro