DotNetNuke , The specified password for user account “sa” is not valid

Question

I am installing DotNetNuke, during installation it is asking Database Password, I am giving the same password that I am using for SQL server but it is showing error.

The specified password for user account “sa” is not valid, or failed to connect to the database server

Screenshot:

Answer 1

You likely aren't configuring a complex enough SA password, though the Web Platform Installer won't tell you what the requirements are (likely 7 characters, with something other than just alpha)

As Daniel said, I detest the WPI and avoid it like the plague. When it works, it works great, but when it doesn't, it is really painful to troubleshoot

Answer 2

Follow the steps described here, this solved my issue:

1. Log in to SQL Server using .\sqlexpress and windows authentication

2. Expand Security, then Logins

3. Look at the icon. If there's a small arrow pointing down, the account is disabled. Let's fix that.

4. Double-click the sa account to open properties.

5. Change the password (strong using password policy)and confirm it.

6. Click on "Status" in the left pane to reload the options in the right pane. Select "Enabled" under the header "Login".

7. Click "OK" to close the properties window.

With the sa account taken care of, we need to check to ensure we're in mixed mode:

1. While in SSMS, right-click the server name in the left pane and select "Properties"

2. Click "Security" in the left pane and select "SQL Server and windows authentication mode".

3. Click "OK".

4. Close SSMS.

The last step is to restart SQL Server (SQLEXPRESS) under control panel --> administrative tools --> services.

Once this is done, log in to SQL Server 20008 Express using the sa account and password that you changed. If successful, you can now install DNN using the web platform installer.