VB .net standard and server explorer?

Ive been using the vb .net standard edition and so far have
found everything great.Windows apps,web apps,etc.
The only thing is,I,ve been able to make a connection to
to an access database on my own computer and everythings
been fine ,until I tried to make an oledbconnection on a server
Such a simple thing hasnt been working!I must be setting
the right data paths and everything ,but every which way I try
I cant make the connection.
Has anybody here used the vb standard edition for remote
data connections successfully?Or is this the expected "need
The vb pro" punchline?
Any solid advice helpfull
TF