title: SQL Connection String with Instance Parameter
body: <p>I'm trying to check (in .net c#) if I'm able to connect to SQL server. However whenever I specify <strong>instance</strong> in my connection string I'm no longer able to connect. :</p>
  
  <p>This works:</p>
  
  <pre><code>builder.ConnectionString = "Server=DLS-534;user id=sa;password=Mypassword;initial catalog=master";
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>This DOES NOT work:</p>
  
  <pre><code>builder.ConnectionString = "Server=DLS-534\\SQL_2008_R2_DEV;user id=sa;password=Mypassword;initial catalog=master";
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Why doesn't this work???. I do need to be able to connect to a specific instance because a user may have several dbs.</p>
  
  <p>My full code:</p>
  
  <pre><code>            SqlConnectionStringBuilder builder =
                  new SqlConnectionStringBuilder();
  
  builder.ConnectionString = "Server=DLS-534\\SQL_2008_R2_DEV;user id=sa;password=Mypassword;initial catalog=master";
  
              using (var connection = new SqlConnection(builder.ConnectionString))
              {
                  try
                  {
                      connection.Open();
                      return true;
                  }
                  catch (SqlException)
                  {
                      return false;
                  }
              }
  </code></pre>