I am not able to use the demo since it can't connect to SQL Server 2008 Express, even though it correctly lists the database list. I can connect to my instance with Visual Studio, Mgmt studio, etc. with no problems. I also tried a SQL login instead of Windows and it still did not work. I just downloaded the demo the other day, so it is very recent. The connection error come up after clicking on Create using the Create New Project option in the Designer. It successfully lists the database list, and I click on the db that I need. However, when I click on create, it gets as far as Retrieving db_accessadmin schema on the progress bar message, but no further. I've verified nothing else has the connection open when trying to run this. Stack trace below.

[DBNETLIB][ConnectionOpen (ParseConnectParams()).]Invalid connection.

-----[Core exception]-------------------- at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnectionInternal..ctor(OleDbConnectionString constr, OleDbConnection connection) at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnectionFactory.CreateConnection(DbConnectionOptions options, Object poolGroupProviderInfo, DbConnectionPool pool, DbConnection owningObject) at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.CreateNonPooledConnection(DbConnection owningConnection, DbConnectionPoolGroup poolGroup) at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.GetConnection(DbConnection owningConnection) at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionClosed.OpenConnection(DbConnection outerConnection, DbConnectionFactory connectionFactory) at System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection.Open() at SD.LLBLGen.Pro.DBDrivers.SqlServer.SqlServerSchemaRetriever.RetrieveSchema(String connectionString, IDBSchema schemaToRetrieve, SchemaFetchFlags fetchFlags) at SD.LLBLGen.Pro.DBDrivers.SqlServer.SqlServerCatalogRetriever.RetrieveSchemas(String connectionString, IDBCatalog catalogToRetrieve, SchemaFetchFlags fetchFlags) at SD.LLBLGen.Pro.DBDrivers.SqlServer.SqlServerDBDriver.PopulateSelectedCatalogs(Hashtable callBacks, Hashtable connectionElements, SchemaFetchFlags fetchFlags, Hashtable properties) at bf.d()

What credentials are you using, and what server name are you filling into the Server textbox?

And please check: - Credentials you are using. - The DB accept remote connections - This thread: http://llblgen.com/tinyforum/Messages.aspx?ThreadID=10091

Not sure what the problem was with using Windows credentials, but I switched over to an explicit db connection and it works. I normally don't use Windows credentials anyhow, but they have been working fine w/ Visual Studio and other tools. Using the explicit db account and giving the appropriate permissions (schemas) at least got me past the connection problem. There is no ports being blocked to my knowledge, so not sure what could have caused the error.

I think the windows user you've used is allowed to connect to the db service but not allowed to login into the actual database (sqlserver uses 2-step connects, 1 step to connect to the db service, one to connect to the catalog).