Can't connect to localhost, but can with computer name in SQL Server 2008

Question

I\'m using SQL Server 2008 and in Visual Studio, in Server Explorer, I can connect to SQL Server running using my computer name, but I can\'t using 127.0.0.1 or localhost, s

Answer 1

I had the same problem, and it looks like there were two issues.

First was implementing Rob's advice, ie to use the configuration manager to enable the SQL connections.

Second was to connnect to a specific instance, as advised by several folk. From the configuration manager I realised I had two instances, SQLEXPRESS and HOMEINSTALL. I could then make a connection using eg localhost\sqlexpress or .\homeintall.