how to change the instance name back to default of SQL2k5

hi,

While installing SQL SERVER 2005, I had opted for providing custom name for the SQL Server and named it as for eg. as 'xyz' . Now I would prefer to change it back to default instance so that I can use server=localhost in my connection string of my ASP.NET page. With the custom instance name everytime I have to give
server="Machinename\xyz" which is annoying as I will have to change the connection strings in so many places for my exisiting ASP.NET page.

For e.g.

strConnection="server="Machinename\xyz";database=test;Integrated Security=SSPI;";

I tried using server=(local). It did not work...:(

Also on my another machine which has SQL2k5 installed with default instance I am able to use this string:
strConnection="server=localhost;database=test;Integrated Security=SSPI;";

while the same string I cannot use on the one in which I provided the instance name.

Guess uninstall is the only way.

anyone knows how can I change it back to default instance?

I'm not sure if there is a way to change an instance name. If you must do this, install another copy of SQL Server with the default instance name. Then backup your databases in the xyz instance. Restore them in the default instance. Then uninstall xyz instanace. As for the programs with changing connections strings in web apps, I would recommend pointing them to datasources instead of putting connections string in there. Then, if you modify your sql server configuration you simply have to change the datasouce and not all of your web.config files.|||

Thanks JonM. I know how to create datasources but I don;t know what needs to be put in the ASP.NET file or web.config files to establish the connection.

Suppose I have database called 'test' with DSN name as 'test' in the 'xyz' instance of SQL Server on my machine named 'Development'

How do I achieve this?

Thank you once again for your help.

|||

Basically you change your connection string to 'Datasource=xyx', and remove all of the other stuff, you may still have to specify a username and password if you didnt specify it in the datasouce.

sql