A Connection could not be established to <server>

Hi, I received this message today when I tried to log on to my SQL Server:

**********************
A connection could not be established to <server>

Reason: SQL Server does not exist or Access denied
ConnectionOpen(Connect())..

Please verify SQL Server is running and check your SQL Registration properties**********************

My SQL server wasn't running, however I am not able to start it (right click->start doesn't work).

Any thoughts?
thanksGo to LOG subdirectory and open ERRORLOG file with your favorite text editor. Check event log (Application) for reasons of service startup failure.|||check that your service account hasnt changed it's password;

one simple way to do this is to set the sqlserver service account to local and try to start it if it works your service account is not permissioned or more than likely the password has been changed.

if this is the case. dont forget your sqlserveragent acct as well.

reply back if you are using a local system account