Have you ever wanted to connect to the “Windows Internal” database that WSS V3 uses?

While “Windows Internal Database” is Microsoft SQL Server 2005 in a limited edition (just like MSDE, WMSDE before it), the familiar access tools to the DB went missing, and connecting using standard ways doesn’t work either.

It doesn’t work right out of the box. First, you need SQL Management Studio Express.

Install and start it. Specify the following connection string:

\\.\pipe\mssql$microsoft##ssee\sql\query

Please note that, as implied by the connection string, this connection only works locally. If you are looking for the connection string than here it is:

“Provider=Sqloledb;Data Source=\\.\pipe\MSSQL$MICROSOFT##SSEE\sql\query;Database=SUSDB;Trusted_Connection=yes”