I have noticed that after doing a Windows Update in Windows 10, it sometimes disables or removes drivers it considers outdated. This time, it disabled my SQL Server instance and I can not connect to the database.
When you try to connect, you get the message given below.
I was also getting an error, when I was trying to run my application: 'The underlying provider failed on Open'.
The application was running fine the previous day and suddenly it was throwing these errors. I checked the connection string, rebuilt the solution and also did a GIT pull to check if I missed some changes.
On further investigation, I realized that SQL Server Service was not running and was in a stopped state.
To re enable it, open run. ( Press Windows key + R ).
Type Services.msc and press OK.
A Services Window opens, scroll to SQL Server. ( Be careful not to change any other Services).
Nigel FernandesPosted Apr 12, 2018, 9:29 PM
This issue is still there, I've raised an issue on the MS forum: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-update/whenever-there-is-a-major-windows-update-it/3e7911e0-932c-4b50-a60c-f908ec718244?messageId=5506e576-330e-4bdc-9b23-d6bd3093421d