Could not connect to SQL Express 2008

Have connection problem accessing SQL Express 2008? Try following:

1. Check SQL Server network configuration for the installed instance: ensure TCP/IP protocol is enabled, activated and listens to the port 1433. Restart SQL service after each change in service/network configuration.
   
2. Try to connect to installed instance locally using osql.exe (to find in %Program Files%\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn):
   osql -S localMachineName -E
   or
   osql -S localMachineName\instanceName -E
   
3. Does it work? Try the same from remote machine (i. e. from the client where you experienced connection problems).
4. Connection timed out on login? Or another message like "Connection string invalid"? Return to the SQL Express machine and check the firewall settings.
5. Ensure firewall rules allow port 1433 as exception.
6. Ensure firewall rules allow sqlservr.exe as exception: ensure the path is %Program Files%\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.\MSSQL\Binn\sqlservr.exe
7. Check firewall rules on the client: at least the port 1433 should be allowed.
8. Retry the connection: does it work now? My client can connect now - and yours?

Do not ask me, why the SQL Express 2008 doesn't configure automatically firewall exceptions: neither during setup nor while perform SQL servic configuration. It is so...

Enjoy!

Windows Server 2008 R2 freezes on DELL OptiPlex 740

Couple of days ago I've installed Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard on my playground box: an OptiPlex 740 from DELL.
Unfortunately, the machine runs extremely unstable: freezes, becomes suddenly terribly slow, doesn't respond on network access requests.

Guessed the problem are drivers, I was looking around for some updates from DELL and found new BIOS version (I had 2.1.8, the new one is 2.2.2).

After update the strange effects didn't apper yet. Let's wait...

Anyway: if you are going to setup WIndows Server 2008 R2 on your box - update BIOS before setup and enjoy Windows Server 2008 R2, the first Microsoft Server Operating System available only as 64-Bit OS.