After installing SQL Server 2014 Express can't find local db

Question

I have downloaded and installed SQL Server 2014 Express (from this site: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/products/sql-server-editions/sql-server-express.aspx#Installation_Options).

The problem is that I can't connect/find my local DB server, and I can't develop DB on my local PC. How can I reach my local server?

My system consists of Windows 8.1 (no Pro or Enterprise editions) 64 bits

Checking the configuration of SQL Server with SQL Server 2014 Configuration Manager tool, I see an empty list selecting "SQL Server Services" from the tree at the left. Below you can find a screenshot.

In the Windows Services list, there is just only one service: "SQL Server VSS Writer"

EDIT My installation window of SQL Server 2014 is the following:

Answer 1

Most probably, you didn't install any SQL Server Engine service. If no SQL Server engine is installed, no service will appear in the SQL Server Configuration Manager tool. Consider that the packages SQLManagementStudio_Architecture_Language.exe and SQLEXPR_Architecture_Language.exe, available in the Microsoft site contain, respectively only the Management Studio GUI Tools and the SQL Server engine.

If you want to have a full featured SQL Server installation, with the database engine and Management Studio, download the installer file of SQL Server with Advanced Services. Moreover, to have a sample database in order to perform some local tests, use the Adventure Works database.

Considering the package of SQL Server with Advanced Services, at the beginning at the installation you should see something like this (the screenshot below is about SQL Server 2008 Express, but the feature selection is very similar). The checkbox next to "Database Engine Services" must be checked. In the next steps, you will be able to configure the instance settings and other options.

Execute again the installation process and select the database engine services in the feature selection step. At the end of the installation, you should be able to see the SQL Server services in the SQL Server Configuration Manager.