To check that the database is running

To check that the database is running you must be using the computer on which the Just Ship IT database is installed. 

MSDE places an icon in your Task Tray (bottom right hand corner)  that indicates the status of the database:

When MSDE is stopped, it will look like this:
When MSDE is running, it will look like this:

To start MSDE

To start the database if it has stopped, right-click on the icon and select "MSSQLServer - Start" from the context menu.