>Typical of a newbie, I have no idea exactly what you mean by "Add a reference to 'Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects Library". do you mean I should add some more components to my toolbox? If so, I am not sure exactly which ones would fit the bill.

To add reference, go to the "Project" menu and choose "References...". I the dialog box, select the library already stated.

>I added an ADODB control and pointed it to Nwind.mdb. Also added all the code. Keeps bombing on the .Open command after the .ConnectionString line (which I rewrote to point to the actual location of Nwind.mdb on my machine).

This is normal since I use strictly code instead of ADO Data control! Once the reference will be done, you won't bomb. The ADO Data Control isn't needed.

>The error message is 'ADO could not find the specified provider' which makes me think that I have the Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects Library set up wrong somehow.

Have you downloaded version 2.1 or 2.5 of ADO from MS web site?

>Do appreciate your patience on this. Learning a new system, so similar and yet so different from VFP, is a slow process sometimes, and ya trip up on the seemingly little stuff.

Maybe you should read a little in VB books. The programmer's guide (that comes with VB) is an excellent starting point!