Question: I just installed SQL Server Express on my PC and for some reason it is not showing in my list of available servers to connect on Visual Studio 2010. I added some pictures to explain exactly my problem. I have no idea how to fix this because it is up and running, but not showing up...

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/bByTR.png)

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/F587u.png)

![enter image description here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/CL6nU.png)

Answer: 
I just had the same problem, I solved it by typing "." (without quotes) in the server name.

[![screenshot](https://i.stack.imgur.com/zehKv.png)](https://i.stack.imgur.com/zehKv.png)
if `sqlserver` is installed with new installation try the following:

```
(localdb)\mssqllocaldb

```