Cannot connect. Error 18456.

Question

I finally got SQL Server 2005 installed on my Vista Ultimate computer and now I can't connect in SQL Server Management Studio.
I've got a named instance; use the built-in system account; windows authentication mode. I try to connect to
Server type: Database Engine
Server name: RAYWOERNER-PC\RAYWOERNER
Authentication: Windows Authentication
and it fails. Please help.
Thanks,
Ray
Here are the technical details:
===================================
Cannot connect to RAYWOERNER-PC\RAYWOERNER.
===================================
Login failed for user 'RayWoerner-PC\Ray'. (.Net SqlClient Data Provider)
For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft+SQL+Server&EvtSrc=MSSQLServer&EvtID=18456&LinkId=20476
Server Name: RAYWOERNER-PC\RAYWOERNER
Error Number: 18456
Severity: 14
State: 1
Line Number: 65536
Program Location:
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnection.OnError(SqlException exception, Boolean breakConnection)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.ThrowExceptionAndWarning(TdsParserStateObject stateObj)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.TdsParser.Run(RunBehavior runBehavior, SqlCommand cmdHandler, SqlDataReader dataStream, BulkCopySimpleResultSet bulkCopyHandler, TdsParserStateObject stateObj)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds.CompleteLogin(Boolean enlistOK)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds.AttemptOneLogin(ServerInfo serverInfo, String newPassword, Boolean ignoreSniOpenTimeout, Int64 timerExpire, SqlConnection owningObject)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds.LoginNoFailover(String host, String newPassword, Boolean redirectedUserInstance, SqlConnection owningObject, SqlConnectionString connectionOptions, Int64 timerStart)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds.OpenLoginEnlist(SqlConnection owningObject, SqlConnectionString connectionOptions, String newPassword, Boolean redirectedUserInstance)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlInternalConnectionTds..ctor(DbConnectionPoolIdentity identity, SqlConnectionString connectionOptions, Object providerInfo, String newPassword, SqlConnection owningObject, Boolean redirectedUserInstance)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnectionFactory.CreateConnection(DbConnectionOptions options, Object poolGroupProviderInfo, DbConnectionPool pool, DbConnection owningConnection)
   at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.CreateNonPooledConnection(DbConnection owningConnection, DbConnectionPoolGroup poolGroup)
   at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionFactory.GetConnection(DbConnection owningConnection)
   at System.Data.ProviderBase.DbConnectionClosed.OpenConnection(DbConnection outerConnection, DbConnectionFactory connectionFactory)
   at System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection.Open()
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.UI.VSIntegration.ObjectExplorer.ObjectExplorer.ValidateConnection(UIConnectionInfo ci, IServerType server)
   at Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.UI.ConnectionDlg.Connector.ConnectionThreadUser()

Answer 1

When you installed SQL Server did you add your account RAYWOERNER-PC\RAYWOERNER as an administrator ? I am assuming from above that you selected Windows only and so you do not have the ability to sign in with the sa account. You could look at trying to run
SSMS as Administrator as this should allow you to connect using the local administrator account.
Once you have been able to connect to the Instance of SQL Server then you want to follow the steps in this link to grant your account Sysadmin permissions -
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb326612(v=sql.90).aspx
Warwick Rudd
MCM - SQL 2008