Connecting to SQL Express 2005

[Connull]

I have developed a windows app which uses a SQL database. I have discovered
that if you install SQL Express 2005 on a PC which has been renamed you
cannot access the SQL Server from the application (SQL Server not found or
access denied). Should you be lucky to know what the original name was of the
particular PC and rename it back to this the application can then connect.
The problem I am experiencing is that when I deploy or install my application
on a Client's PC sometimes the PC's have been renamed and they don't know the
original namiing. Has anyone experienced this problem? Is there a solution?
Is there a way of identifying the PC's original name? All help will be
appreciated as this has become a major stepping block in my rollouts.

 

[Miro]

If you run the SQL servier Configuration manager,

Click on SQL Server 2005 Services,
and then go to properties to ( for example ) "SQL Server Integration
Services"
click on the Service tab,
what does it say under "Host Name"?

Miro

 

[Connull]

The Host Name is the name of the PC's present name. Keep in mind I have
installed SQL 2005 Express on the renamed PC. My application connects on that
specific machine but not on others trying to connect to the renamed PC. I
have come across this before and after many hours struggle found the
"renaming problem" however you don't always know what the original name was
to change it back.

 

[JDS]

The problem I am experiencing is that when I deploy or install my application
on a Client's PC sometimes the PC's have been renamed and they don't knowthe
original namiing. Has anyone experienced this problem? Is there a solution?

Have you tried using "LocalHost\SQLExpress" or ".\SQLExpress" instead
of an explicit machine name?

This should enable your config to be independent of the machine name
and cure the problem.

HTH
Jeremy