A network-related or instance-specific error occurred I have been using a local database on my laptop for the last view weeks. But today I cannot access it. I get the error: 


  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: Named
  Pipes Provider, error: 40 - Could not open a connection to SQL Server)


The system cannot find the file specified"

The database connection is: my-pc.C:\DB\DBV8.1.1.MDF.dbo
Under configuration manager I set the server browser to start (right click and start).

The following page/Answer gives more detail: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/6987709/unable-to-connect-to-sql-server-instance-remotely