title: SQL Server 2012 Express connection error
body: <p>I installed SQL Server 2012 but not able to connection to express instance getting below error:</p>
  
  <p>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)</p>
  
  <p>SQL Server is attempting to register a Service Principal Name (SPN) for the SQL Server service. Kerberos authentication will not be possible until a SPN is registered for the SQL Server service. This is an informational message. No user action is required.
  2012-07-20 11:37:08.72 Server      The SQL Server Network Interface library could not register the Service Principal Name (SPN) [ MSSQLSvc/VIPUL-MEHTA.XXXX.com ] for the SQL Server service. Windows return code: 0x2098, state: 15. Failure to register a SPN might cause integrated authentication to use NTLM instead of Kerberos. This is an informational message. Further action is only required if Kerberos authentication is required by authentication policies and if the SPN has not been manually registered.</p>
  
  <p>Here is my SQL Server Configuration settings</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/ukFMJ.png" alt="Here is my SQL Server Configuration settings"></p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/7qeQR.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p>In management studio I am providing below information to connect:</p>
  
  <p>Server: .\MSSQLSERVER
  Authentication: Windows Authentication</p>
  
  <p>In SQL Server 2012 how can I change the settings of Surface Area Configuration.
  I forgot the password for SA, so I cannot connect using SQL Server authentication.</p>
  
  <p>Here is TCP IP Settings:</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/u4nvW.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>