Both syntax work against Oracle8i (as well as Oracle8) when I have NET8 version 8.0.4 or 8.0.5 installed on my workstation, but on the machines (Windows NT Workstation/95)where I installed NET8 version 8.1.6 from Oracle8i CD it doesn't work at all: neither with Oracle8 database nor 8i. I believe it's not database, it's NET8 that's causing the problem.

Which version of NET8 are you using ? Is it NT Server, NT Workstation or Windows98/95 ?