title: Create Local SQL Server database
body: <p>I've used SQL Server Management Studio before, but only when the server is already up and running.</p>
  
  <p>I need to start from the beginning and create my own instance on the local computer.</p>
  
  <p>The instructions I'm getting, is just put "." on the server name and use Windows Authentication. But that gives me a "server not found" error.</p>
  
  <p>Can someone please help? I'm using SQL Server 2012 Management Studio.</p>
  
  <p>I really thought it would be just like Access, create my tables and start creating queries.</p>