Cannot find SQL Instance name on network PC
<p>I have been facing this type of situation a dozen of times now and final want a permanent solution to it.</p>

<h2>Problem</h2>

<p>Cannot find Server PC's SQL Instance name on client PC.<br><br>
<strong>Note</strong>:- I have installed SQL Express And Management Studio on both server and client<br>
<strong>Server PC Name</strong> : M-PC<br>
<strong>Server SQL Version</strong> : SQL Server 2008<br>
<strong>Client PC Name</strong> : SHIVANG<br>
<strong>Client SQL Version</strong> : SQL Server 2008<br><br>
Client's PC SQL Server Screenshot
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/C2aLl.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/C2aLl.png" alt=""></a></p>

<h2>Solution that i have tried</h2>

<p>1) <strong>Switching OFF firewall</strong> of both server and client PC completely (Domain, Private &amp; Public)<br>
2) Enabling and restarting the services : <strong>SQL Server</strong> and <strong>Browser Service</strong>
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Utbsp.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Utbsp.png" alt="enter image description here"></a>
3) Enabling SQL Network Configuration settings
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/SsPpD.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/SsPpD.png" alt="enter image description here"></a>
4) Also enabled "Allow remote connection" from SQL Server of both the PC<br>
5) Networking between both the PC is perfect can access files through network of both the PC.<br>
6) Even changed the IP configuration settings from obtain to static of both the PC (<em>IP of Server is 192.168.1.41 and IP of client is 192.168.1.44</em>)
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/RV4KT.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/RV4KT.png" alt="enter image description here"></a><br>
7) I have completely uninstalled SQL Express and Management Studio from client and server and installed it again.<br>
8) I also told my client to format the PC and then installed SQL Express and Management Studio. Still nothing.<br>
9) They don't have any antivirus on any of the system (to block the connection)<br></p>

<h2>FUN PART</h2>

<p>Now the fun part here is while i was fiddling with the settings of client and server PC. <strong>Server PC started showing the client PC SQL Instance while client PC was still unable to find the server SQL Instance</strong>.<br></p>

<p>Below image is of Server PC's SQL Server<br>
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/nFxsA.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/nFxsA.png" alt="enter image description here"></a>
Below image is of Client PC's SQL Server<br>
<a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Asenp.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/Asenp.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p><br>Here are the following settings i have been fiddling with:-<br></p>

<ol>
<li>Changed IP from <strong><em>Obtain</em></strong> to <strong><em>Static</em></strong> of both the PC's (client and server)</li>
<li>Changed the Protocol : TCP/IP of SQL of both the PC's (client and server) [sorry i forgot to get the screenshots of it and was fiddling with it even more when the server PC stopped showing the client's PC SQL Instance]<br><br></li>
</ol>

<p>Now i don't have a clue what to do next to solve this problem. Please help me if you can.<br><br></p>

<p>Thanks in advance</p>