SQL Server Express authentication mode greyed out

Having problems connecting to SQL Server Express using 'sa' account and having read threds re problem and MS, advice is that Authenticaion mode needs to be set to both Windows and SQL. I have studio express installed and go to Security from the properties of the Server to change this option to use both authentication modes, however the options are greyed out!

Can anyone advise pse.

And will amending this option help me to enable the sa login which is refused at the moment, error as follows:

Login failed for user 'sa'.The user is not associated with a trusted SQL Server connection

Thank you in advance

Jens K. Suessmeyer wrote:

I Hi Tim, I guess that you didnĄŻt connect with a server principal (user) which has the appropiate permissions to change the authentication type. Dont worry about the message "Login failed for user 'sa'.The user is not associated with a trusted SQL Server connection", this is dedicated to the fact that you only have Windows authentication enabled. SQL Server wonĄŻt accept any SQL Server logins then (even if it is sa). If you donĄŻt have any Windows User on hand which is priviledged to change the authentication mode (normally and by default the (Windows) group "Administrators" (and all users assigned to that group) are system administrators at Sql Server level) you can switch the authentication mode in the registry. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322336/en-us Make sure you restart the service after doing that. HTH, jens Suessmeyer. --- http://www.sqlserver2005.de ---

Hi I have the same problem I try to swith the authentication mode as http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322336/en-us

said, but im trying the first step in the

prompt I write:

osql -U sa

password:

& the prompt display

"Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\TAVO.NATALIA>osql -U sa
Password:
[SQL Native Client]VIA Provider: The specified module could not be found.
[SQL Native Client]Login timeout expired
[SQL Native Client]An error has occurred while establishing a connection to
the server. When connecting to SQL Server 2005, this failure may be caused by
the fact that under the default settings SQL Server does not allow remote
connections.

C:\Documents and Settings\TAVO.NATALIA>"

I already check start->SQL Server 2005 Surface Area Configuration->Area configuration for services & connections->SQL EXPRESS->DATABASE ENGINE->Remote connections

I have select:

Local and remote connections -> using both TCP/IP and named pipes

So whats the problem

thnx