Error: Failed to connect to the database server or the database name does not exist

Problem

You are attempting to run the SharePoint Products and Technologies Configuration Wizard after a fresh installation of the SharePoint Server 2007 binaries.  After entering initial configuration information,

and then clicking Next, you then see the following error:

Troubleshooting

1. Check logs:
• Reviewing the PSCDiagnostics log, at, C:\program files\common files\Microsoft shared\web server extensions\12\logs you find the following entry:

  System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException was thrown. Additional exception information: A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. The server was not found or was not accessible. Verify that the instance name is correct and that SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections. (provider: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified)

2. Check data entry:
• You check the SQL Server instance name that you entered and verify that it is correctly entered.
• You check the account that you used, and verify that it has dbcreator and securityadmin roles configured.
3. Check remote connectivity:
1. You ping the SQL Server host from the SharePoint host and verify network access.
2. On the SQL Server host, you check the SQL Server surface area and find that both TCP and named pipes have been enabled:
   
3. On the SharePoint Server host, you test connectivity by installing SQL Server Management Studio and attempting to connect to the SQL Server host, but this fails, with the following message:

   Cannot connect to [your SQL Server instance]. ------------------------------ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. The server was not found or was not accessible. Verify that the instance name is correct and that SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections. (provider: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified) (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: -1) For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&EvtSrc=MSSQLServer&EvtID=-1&LinkId=20476

4. On the SQL Server host, you check services and find that the SQL Server Browser service is disabled:
   

Resolution

• Start the SQL Server Browser service and set startup to automatic.

References

• MSSQLServer Event ID -1: Cannot connect to [your instance]