what's wrong with these sentences below?

 Dim cnn As New SqlConnection("server=zjx2000\testsqlsvr;User=zjx; pwd=680228;database=WroxJokeShop")
Dim cmd As New SqlCommand("getdepartments", cnn)
cmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure
cnn.Open()
...

when it step to "cnn.open()",I got an error "server not exist or refuse to access",something like that,but in a Access adp,the same connection string is ok! My english is poor,I hope you understand what I say.Thanks for your reply!

Dear zjxgjp!

There may be several causes of not working for the code of yours:-

Cause 1
-------
When installing SQL Server, you can install either a 'defalt instance' (the default) or a 'named instance'. With a default instance you need to write only the name of the server in conn str like this:
      "Server=server_name"
With a named instance, however, you would write the same thing as:
      "Server=server_name\instance_name"

Now, the conn str you have used uses this second approach. Make sure that you have a named instance and that the instance name is correct. if you don't have a named instance, use only the name of the server as in the example above.

Cause 2
-------
For your conn str to work properly, your SQL Server must be configured to use Mixed Mode security (rather than Windows Security) as you are providing a user name and password. If your server is configured to use Mixed Mode security then make sure your user name and password are correct and that the user has permission to acces the database. If any of these conditions is not met, the conn will fail.
If your server uses Windows authentication then modify your conn str to resemble the one below:
  "Server=server_name;Database=databse_name;Integrat ed Security=SSPI"

For specific help as to how to grant a user access to a databse or change the SQL Server security mode, plz check SQL Server Books online. I hope it should help you resolve the problem.

ejan