title: Default instance name of SQL Server Express
body: <p>I don't have access to a SQL Server Express installation at the moment, but I know that the installer usually installs SQL Server Express with an instance name. What is the default instance name for SQL Server Express installations? I.e., how do you access such an installation by default? Is it localhost\SQLEXPRESS$ ? Is the same name used for both 2005 and 2008 servers? </p>