Connecting to SQL 2005 server on Windows 2003

Hope this is on the correct forum, if not could the admins move please.

Im running Win XP SP2 Pro + All updates, Visual Studio .Net 2005 and SQL 2005. SQL is running on Win 2003 server. When i try to create a connection on the WinXP system using ODBC i get the following error:

Connection Failed:
SQLSTATE: '01000'
SQL Server Error: 233
[Microsoft] [ODBC SQL server driver][DBNETLIB]Connection open (PreLoginHandshake())
Connection failed:
SQLState: '08001'
SQL Server error: 11
[Microsoft] [ODBC SQL server driver][DBNETLIB]General Network error. Chcek your network documentation.

Ive searched about the error but nothing seems to work - can anyone help to resolve please?

Thanks in advance.

1) Are you making remote connection? If you have SQL 2005 installed on your XP client box, can you try Management studio to connect to remote server? what error you see?

2) Did you install SQL Express 2005 and make remote connection?If so, check this blog:

http://blogs.msdn.com/sql_protocols/archive/2006/03/23/558651.aspx

But I do not think this is the case.

3) more GNE error troubleshooting blog:

http://blogs.msdn.com/sql_protocols/archive/2006/04/12/574608.aspx

Might give you some clue.

Summary, to fix your problem, please:

check our anouncement posted by Nan Tu, provided the answer to the questions for troubleshootin connectivity issue.

Thanks!

Ming.