Unable to connect to SQL Server 2008 Express.

I’m having a not-so-fun-time connecting to my SQL Server 2008 Express DB.  In SQL Server itself, I can see that the server name is ‘LAPTOP\SQL_EXPRESS’.  This makes perfect sense to me.  BTW, my laptop is named ‘Laptop’.  Now, when I go through VWD, add a SqlDataSource and Configure the datasource, I simple click New Connection > Microsoft SQL Server > Refersh (to find the name) and nothing is returned.  I’ve had all kinds of problems in VB.NET and C#.NET too.  I think I simply can’t connect to the DB, but I have no idea why.  Basically, when I’m in SQL Server, everything seems to work fin, but when I try to connect using another app, nothing works.  Any ideas on what I’m doing wro ...