if you receive this error message, first make sure that the sql server agent service is running. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Click start, click run, type services.msc, and then click ok.
2. In the services window, locate the sql server agent service.
3. Make sure that the value of the status column of the sql server agent service is running.
If the sql server agent service is running, this problem occurs because the sql server agent service cannot interpret the dot mark (.) that represents the local computer in the objectname registry entry under the following registry subkey. For a default instance, the registry subkey is as follows:
Hkey_local_machine\system\currentcontrolset\services\mssqlserver\
for a named instance, the registry subkey is as follows:
Hkey_local_machine\system\currentcontrolset\services\mssql$instancename\
note instancename is a placeholder for the instance of sql server.