Title: Issue connecting to SQL Server using setup-config.php
Last modified: August 20, 2016

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# Issue connecting to SQL Server using setup-config.php

 *  [jborland](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jborland/)
 * (@jborland)
 * [14 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/issue-connecting-to-sql-server-using-setup-configphp/)
 * I have downloaded 3.3.1 and followed all of the install steps to use WordPress
   with SQL Server (I think).
 * when I try to run the setup-config.php, it will not connect to the SQL Server.
   I have double checked the login, etc. I can log in using that login via the SQL
   management tools.
 * I get the “Error establishing a database connection”.
 * I am certain that I can access the server form this machine (have many .asp sites
   running there).
 * Any ideas?

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  [hobbsh](https://wordpress.org/support/users/hobbsh/)
 * (@hobbsh)
 * [14 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/issue-connecting-to-sql-server-using-setup-configphp/#post-2639422)
 * Did you rename sample-config.php to config.php? I am not sure what setup-config.
   php is.
 * If you are using the same credentials that worked on other sites then it is probably
   because your config file is not named correctly.
 *  Thread Starter [jborland](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jborland/)
 * (@jborland)
 * [14 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/issue-connecting-to-sql-server-using-setup-configphp/#post-2639526)
 * Setup-config.php is something that the installation packages says Ineed to run
   to get the config.php created correctly for my SQL Server installation.
 * I realized the last time that I was trying to connect to 2005 – so I have installed
   2008 in a named instance, and am now trying to connect to that – but still the
   same response. Is there somewhere that I can look to see what error message is
   truly being returned?
 *  Moderator [t-p](https://wordpress.org/support/users/t-p/)
 * (@t-p)
 * [14 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/issue-connecting-to-sql-server-using-setup-configphp/#post-2639528)
 * – Error connecting to your database is common, but it isn’t necessarily a problem
   with wordpress itself.
 * – First, try contacting the hosting provider if the database server is online/
   if they have any other problem at their end, or they made any changes to your
   account, or if there are any limitations/restrictions, if the hosting package
   is set to Windows and not Linux, etc .
 * – double check your wp-config.php file settings for the database name, database
   username and database password. This is where most errors occur. -Then check 
   that you don’t need to change the database host from “localhost” to something
   else. You can get that info from your hosting provider.
 * -Check you have actually created a database with the same database name as is
   in your wp-config.php file.
 * -Last, but not least, if all that information is correct your database probably
   has a problem with it, and you may need to contact your hosting provider.
 * There are also many threads on this topic on these forums: [http://wordpress.org/search/Error+establishing+a+database+connection?forums=1](http://wordpress.org/search/Error+establishing+a+database+connection?forums=1)
 *  Thread Starter [jborland](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jborland/)
 * (@jborland)
 * [14 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/issue-connecting-to-sql-server-using-setup-configphp/#post-2639529)
 * Thanks for the suggestions – however, I know the DB is online, I can connect 
   to it.
 * The issue is when I run the step that will create the database connection for
   my wp-config.php (this step is found in the plugins section, it involves navigating
   to the website and running a page called setup-config.php) and this page delivers
   the cryptic message.
 * I have searched and so far not found anythign that corrects the problem.

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘Issue connecting to SQL Server using setup-config.php’ is closed to new
replies.

## Tags

 * [config](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/config/)
 * [connection](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/connection/)
 * [Setup](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/setup/)
 * [SQL Server](https://wordpress.org/support/topic-tag/sql-server/)

 * In: [Installing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/installation/)
 * 4 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [jborland](https://wordpress.org/support/users/jborland/)
 * Last activity: [14 years ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/issue-connecting-to-sql-server-using-setup-configphp/#post-2639529)
 * Status: not resolved

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