cannot connect to pc-name\SQLEXPRESS

Question

While trying to connect to SQL server 2005 standard edition through SQL Server Management Studio 2005 I get the following error:

Answer 1

My issue occurs when I add a PC to a domain. Restarting the service, making sure it's running, that it has the correct credentials to run, etc, as in other answers doesn't work. I don't know exactly what the problem is, but I can't even log in with the local user anymore to give the domain user access. Here's the steps that work for me:

In SSMS

• View > Registered Servers
• Database Engine > Local Server Groups > right-click pcname\sqlexpress
• Delete > Yes
• Right-click Local Server Groups > Tasks > Register Local Servers
• It confirms that it re-registered. pcname\sqlexpress reappears.

I'm then able to log in with the local windows auth'd user again, my databases are all there and everything. I then go about my business adding the domain user to Security > Logins.