OBDC doesn't find a sql database?

Hey I have sp2 installed and sql set-up and sql manager thing all set up with the databases ready and all for jpt but when i go to setup OBDC it doesn't find the sql database or sever thats my 1 and only problem can somebody help i have googled it searched this fourm for about 4 hours and yet no-one has given a straight answer. Thanks in advance to who ever helps me :) (BTW i'm not really a noob at this stuff im just a noob at this fourm):juggle:

lol had same thing

go to your SQL manegment tool before u log in there i see NAME SERVER
copy whats written there

now go to the ODBC and instead of LOCAL or YOURPCNAME enter the NAME SERVER

or sometimes it just shortens the name like for me the enterprise manger calls it local the management studio calls it sql express and odbc program calles it RYAN so just try a couple

thanks I'm trying those now but did those names appear when you clicked the arrow or did you just type them in?

ok this is weird now its says cannot connect to server but my idata, reg and hotuk(think thats how its spelt) is all with 127.0.0.1 the loopback ip but i can't work out why it won't connect.??? mmm.... thanks for the help with the ODBC now if i can fix this problem...:angry2::censored: