hi,
You have to keep the connection string in <appsettings> tab..
Just like the following example
<configuration>
<appSettings>
<add key="ConStr" value="XXXXXXXXXXXX"></add>
</appsettings>
<system.web>
</system.web>
</configuration>
i thing the key value we are giving is case sensitive...So when You passing the value in .
vb page be careful...
hope this helps-Ashok Parchuri