>>I think it's a different one because I am not reading that forum.
>
>Ok, IAC, my installation works.
>
>However, I cannot connect to SQL Server.
>
>When I launch SSMS, I see the Server type is Database Engine. That is ok. I see the Server name to be the instance name I have provided in the installation. That is ok. I see the authentication to be Windows. That is ok. I see it is pre-selected in read only to the user I have selected. That is ok. However, clicking on Connect fails.
>
>After a while, I have this network-related or instance-specific error.
>
>This is getting annoying.

Hi,

Funny, but I am judging monthly Guru Contributions and I just came across this article (haven't read yet, reading now) which is exactly on your problem

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wiki/contents/articles/24364.could-not-find-database-engine-startup-handle-error-during-sql-server-installation.aspx