VS .NET 2003 and Sql Server 2005 Express Edition

I installed SQL Server 2005 Express Edition yesterday and I have the .NET Framework 2.0. When I try to connect to my database using the VB.NET 2003 Server Explorer, I get a message that says:

Error enumerating data servers. Enumerator reports 'Unspecified error'

So, instead of choosing a database from the dropdown list, I type in the name of my server, choose my database, choose Windows NT Integrated Security, and test the connection. It says it works. Then, when I hit OK, I get a message that says:

Unable to connect to the database. It is only possible to connect to SQL Server Desktop Engine databases and Microsoft Access databases with this version of Visual Studio

Any ideas Am I still able to get the MSDE I tried to install VB.NET 2005 a few months back but it won't run under XP Home Edition.

I posted this in a different thread but, since it was marked as a comment and not a question, it didn't get much play.

.NET Development16

you should be able to use VS2003 and SQL Server 2005 EE as I have done so once as a test for someone. Well, I actually programmatically connected to it but not via the method you have done.

you can still get MSDE 2000:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx FamilyID=413744D1-A0BC-479F-BAFA-E4B278EB9147&displaylang=en

in regards to VB.NET 2005 on XP Home, it should work fine. What problems were you having

Sticking back on topic, you are aware that .NET 2.0 won't be made available to VS2003 right Each version of VS is tied/married to its .NET Framework version, except for VS2005 which you can use .NET 3.0 with an orcas add-in.

I'm still a relative beginner to MS products (been doing development for 10 years but on legacy systems so now I'm teaching myself as well as dabbling in some classes here and there), so I don't know the ins and outs as well as I'd like. I tried to install VB2005 when it was at RC1 and I thought it said I needed Vista or something. Maybe the CD I had was a 64-bit version or something but regardless, I was unable to install.

I may just download the MSDE for the time being (thank you for the link), and continue my self education with products I know are compatible.

Thanks for the reply. :)