Microsoft ODBC Driver 11 for SQL Server: Named Pipes Provider: Could not open a connection to SQL Server I am aware this question has been asked before. I have been following the extensive troubleshooting steps at MSQL Tips as well as every answer I can find on Google. I am really stumped.

The error is as follows:



I cannot seem to get past this error. Every time I install/uninstall MS SQL Server I receive the same error. I have even performed a hard reset of the laptop removing even the BIOS information but I still get the same error. I have discovered that installs of MS SQL Server are concurrent so this perhaps explains it. 

I even set up a virtual machine running Windows 7 to debug and got the exact same message. The application can be run on a different workstation and works perfectly. It seems the issue is something hard coded on to my computer.
Not knowing the full details of your issue by your question try the following:

Option 1:

Temporarily disable Windows Firewall and test your SQL script once more:



Option 2:

Make sure NetBIOS is enabled in the TCP/IP settings of the network adapter you are using:



Option 3:

Ensure that SQL Server protocols are enabled through SQL Server Configuration Manager:



Option 4:

Try a combination of two or more options above.