Get SQL Server Authentication working at a new setup of MSSQL Server.

Go to properties for a database, then to Security, and click the radio button for "SQL Server and Windows Authentication mode" to escape errors such as: A connection was successfully established with the server, but then an error occurred during the login process. (provider: Shared Memory Provider, error: 0 - No process is on the other end of the pipe.) (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 233)

Also be sure to do this:

Enable TCP/IP and Named Pipes for various services running MSSQL stuff. You will need to restart the services on the other side of everything I mention above. You may type "Component Services" at the start menu in Windows 7 to get at the services, or if you are lazy like me you can just restart your laptop instead. (How often do you really need to do this bit of prep work. You might as well just restart every time. It won't be often.)