>>>>>>I am confused and would appreciate someone explaining how the following in the SQL Server names:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>When I connect to my SQL Server 2008, the SSMS has "MyComputerName" in the Server name (e.g. "DELL2013")
>>>>>>
>>>>>>When I start SQL Server Configuration Manager (SSCM) I see two SQL Server Services running: SQLEXPRESS and MSSQLSERVER.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Why doesn't SSCM show the "MyComputerName" server running?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>TIA
>>>>>
>>>>>If you look in the upper left corner of SCCM, it might show the name of your local server (or just plain "local")
>>>>>
>>>>>SCCM (I believe) will list all the running services on that box/machine.
>>>>
>>>>When I hover the mouse over the upper-left corner, it does says "local." But I am still confused (it must be just me) why the server name in SS Management Studio (the Log-in window) has a name of my computer and the SSCM has two different names, SQLEXPRESS and MSSQLSERVER.
>>>>
>>>>Thank you.
>>>
>>>
>>>When you connect in SSMS, you have the option of connecting to either service (SQLEXPRESS or MSSQLSERVER). Actually, you should be able (in SSMS) to connect to SQLEXPRESS, and then to MSSQLSERVER, and you'll see both instances on the left side in Object explorer.
>>>
>>>When you connect to SSCM, it shows all the services on the box right away.
>>
>>But why in SSMS I see my computer name in the field Server Name. If there is a server name the same as my computer name, shouldn't it be shown in SSCM?
>
>Perhaps there is a confusion between "Server" and "Service"?

Possible. In the SSCM the item in the left pane says " SQL Server Services" and the items in the right pane say "SQL Server (SQLEXPRES)". Are you saying that the "SQLEXPRES" is the name of the service and not SQL Server?