Adventure Works DW 2020 (v1) Connection Issues

[JohnThomas]

Hi everyone... I have downloaded the Adventure Works DW 2020 (v1) Power BI desktop sample model to use for testing DAX / Power Query from this location:

https://aka.ms/dax-docs-samples

When I try to refresh the queries, I am asked to put in my login creds.  I tried my Microsoft Account creds (successful login) but that don't seem to work to refresh the data.  Anyone have any idea what should be used to refresh the data?  

Here's the error I get on all the tables:

Customer

Microsoft SQL: A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. The server was not found or was not accessible. Verify that the instance name is correct and that SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections. (provider: Named Pipes Provider, error: 40 - Could not open a connection to SQL Server)

Is it possible the database is just currently down?

Thanks,

John

[DHBallantyne]

Here - 4 years after this post, as I look to brush up on  some Power BI skills, I wrestle with the same (non) issue. 

In multiple attempts to get past the error which included numerous internet searches and even installing SQLExpress locally and restoring Adventure Works DW 2020, I did finally find this explanation.

Would be nice if the "curators" at Microsoft Learn would state something to this effect - Don't waste your time refreshing the data - it is already cached in the PBIX file you downloaded! when suggesting to download the PBIX's used in the training material.

[rupeshadh]

Hi @DHBallantyne When I open my .pbix file, there is this error message saying "Some of the tables have incomplete or no data". It doesn't refresh when I click the Refresh Now button. Did you fix it by installing SQLExpress locally and restoring Adventure Works DW 2020?

[Greg_Deckler · Accepted solution]

@JohnThomas - First, you shouldn't have to refresh the data, it looks like all of the data from the AdventureWorks database is already imported into the model. Second, if you did want to refresh the data, you would need a SQL Server with the AdventureWorks database loaded up locally. The current value of the SQL Server is called POWERBI-SQL although you could change this in the Power Query Editor.

[JohnThomas]

@Greg_Deckler  -  Thanks for the post.  I was afraid of that and I suppose it makes sense if one were to think on it. 

[vanessafvg]

ok when you say you have downloaded, this have you loaded this data into sql database? can you connect to the database succesfully in sql?

[JohnThomas]

@vanessafvg - I downloaded the pbix file that's connected to the POWERBI-SQL database on ms server (I assume).  @Greg_Deckler provided the solution... which was just don't refresh the data... (This begs the question however, if I am testing something that calls for a refresh such as PQ solution or something then the Adventure Works DW 2020 (v1).pbix doesn't help much unless you can install the db locally, as you suggested...)

Thanks for the quick response.