If you correctly installed SQL Express on a laptop that already had the MSDN developer version, you should see two instances in the services.
MSSQLSERVER - developer version
SQLEXPRESS - express version
SQL Express does not come with services like the SQL Server agent. But it should be listed as the database engine SQL SERVER (SQLEXPRESS) under the configuration manager, SQL Server Services.
Make sure this service is started as well as the Browser service. Under network configuration, make sure TCP/IP is enabled. Under client protocols make sure TCP/IP is enabled.
Since you have the development version of SQL Server, you can connect and manager the express instance like the default instance. Just use your SSMS query window with the correct TSQL.