SQL 2008 Management Studio connection problems

Good step by step for troubleshooting SQL 2008 connection issues.

Reference: http://blog.sqlauthority.com/2009/05/21/sql-server-fix-error-provider-named-pipes-provider-error-40-could-not-open-a-connection-to-sql-server-microsoft-sql-server-error/

How to give access to SQL 2005 Activity Monitor

To view the Activity Monitor the user needs VIEW SERVER STATE permission on a SQL Server 2005 server.

Permission to KILL a process default to the members of the sysadmin and processadmin fixed database roles, and are not transferable.

References: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms175518(SQL.90,printer).aspx