title: Error: Failed to generate a user instance of SQL Server
body: <p>I'm trying to connect to an MDF.  I've even gone to the lengths of re-installing sql server express entirely (it is now the only flavor of SQL installed on my box, where previously I had 05 dev and express).  I've verified that the paths are all correct, and thus far my google-fu hasn't helped.</p>
  
  <p>The Full exception message is: </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Failed to generate a user instance of SQL Server due to a failure in
    starting the process for the user instance.  The connection will be
    closed.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>The Connection string is:</p>
  
  <pre><code>&lt;add name= "CustomerEntities"
       connectionString="metadata=res://*/Data.CustomerModel.csdl|res://*/Data.CustomerModel.ssdl|res://*/Data.CustomerModel.msl;
       provider=System.Data.SqlClient;
       provider connection string='Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;
       AttachDbFilename=\App_Data\CustomerDb.mdf;
       Integrated Security=True;
       User Instance=True'"
       providerName="System.Data.EntityClient" /&gt;
  </code></pre>
  
  <h3>Additional info:</h3>
  
  <p>Several of the references to this error I've found online do not apply to me.  For example, one I've seen is where this error occurs when trying to start the user instance over remote desktop (I'm doing this locally).  While another suggests that it has to do with leftover files from an old express installation ... I've looked in the prescribed locations and not found those artifacts.  I also tried running <code>sp_configure 'user instances enabled', '1'</code>, but it said that it was already set to 1.</p>