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)
You can follow following steps:

1.Open "services.mvc"

[You can see here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/MD15H.png)

2.After that search for the "SQL Server Browser".

[You can see here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/iUmzx.png)

3. Rigth click on it the you may see the option of Properties click o it.After that you can see "StartUp Type" which is disable by default to connect select it to "Automatic" or "Manual".

[You can see here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/PjS1z.png)

4. After selecting to "Automatic" click on the start button to start the SQL Server Browser.

[You can see here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/FKe4D.png)

5.After following above steps you can see that the "SQL Server Browser" is currently running.

[You can see here](https://i.stack.imgur.com/IZ2EW.png)