Just though that i'd post the result of many hours of stuffing around trying to get a neat way to connect to an .mdb, using a password for security, and getting the path out of the registry. both of which required the help of many of you on here.

thanks!

Code:
    Private Function ConnectToDatabase()
        Dim strDatabasePath As String
        Dim FindFile As New OpenFileDialog()

        Dim RegKey As Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKey
        Try
            RegKey = Microsoft.Win32.Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(gcRegistryLocation, True)
            strDatabasePath = (RegKey.GetValue("DBPath", ""))
        Catch
            Microsoft.Win32.Registry.LocalMachine.CreateSubKey(gcRegistryLocation)
            RegKey = Microsoft.Win32.Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(gcRegistryLocation, True)
            RegKey.SetValue("DBPath", "")
        End Try

        Do While (strDatabasePath = "") _
        Or File.Exists(strDatabasePath) = False
            FindFile.Title = "Cannot Locate Data File. Please Specify"
            If FindFile.ShowDialog() = DialogResult.Cancel Then
                strDatabasePath = ""
            Else
                strDatabasePath = FindFile.FileName
            End If
        Loop
        If Trim(strDatabasePath) = "" Then
            End
        Else
            RegKey.SetValue("DBPath", strDatabasePath)
        End If

        gconDatabase.ConnectionString = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=" & strDatabasePath & ";" & _
                                        "Persist Security Info=False;" & _
                                        "Jet OLEDB: Database Password=" & gcDatabasePassword & ";"
        Try
            gconDatabase.Open()
        Catch ex As Exception
            MessageBox.Show("Sorry, but the data file that you have tried to connect to is not the correct file." & vbCrLf & _
                            "The full error message is:" & vbCrLf & ex.Message & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & _
                            "Please verify that the file exists and is valid, and try again.", "Error Connecting", _
                            MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)
            RegKey.SetValue("DBPath", "")
            End
        End Try
    End Function
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