ODP.NET

I have a piece of code that I did both in C# and VB.NET and what is driving me crazy is the C# version works just fine and the VB.NET version does not.

Here is the error I am getting in VB.NET
Exception Details: Oracle.DataAccess.Client.OracleException: ORA-12154: TNS:could not resolve

I am running 9i, XPSP2, and 1.1 of the framework.

As well I am including the code for both.

C# version:
public static readonly string CONN_STRING = ConfigurationSettings.AppSettings["OracleConnectionString"];

I have these keys in my web.config:
<appSettings>
<add key="OracleConnectionString" value="User ID=myid;Password=mypass;Data Source=portal" />
<add key="SqlConnectionString" value="server=localhost;Trusted_Connection=true;database=Northwind" />
</appSettings>

private void Button1_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
OracleConnection dbConn = new OracleConnection(CONN_STRING);
dbConn.Open();

OracleCommand cmd = new OracleCommand("",dbConn);
cmd.CommandText = "ASPAllianceArticles.Article643.OpenXmlFile";
cmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;

OracleParameter dirParam = new OracleParameter("p_dir_name", OracleDbType.Varchar2);
//cmd.Parameters.Add(new OracleParameter("p_dir_name", OracleDbType.Varchar2)).Value = "C:\\xmldata";

//dirParam.Direction = ParameterDirection.Input;
dirParam.Value = "C:\\xmldata";
cmd.Parameters.Add(dirParam);

try
{
cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
StatusLabel.Visible = true;
StatusLabel.Text = "XML Generation Successful";
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
StatusLabel.Visible = true;
StatusLabel.Text = "<b>ERROR</b>: " + ex.Message.ToString();
}
finally
{
dbConn.Dispose();
}
BindXmlDataGrid();
}

VB version:
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

Dim dbConn As New OracleConnection("Data Source=portal;User ID=myid; Password=mypass;")
dbConn.Open()

Dim cmd As New OracleCommand("", dbConn)
cmd.CommandType() = CommandType.StoredProcedure
cmd.CommandText() = "ASPAllianceArticles.Article643.OpenXmlFile"

Dim param As New OracleParameter("p_dir_name", OracleDbType.Varchar2)
param.Value = "C:\\xmldata"

cmd.Parameters.Add(param)

Try
cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()
StatusLabel.Visible = True
StatusLabel.Text = "XML Generation Successful"
BindXmlDataGrid()
Catch ex As Exception
StatusLabel.Visible = True
StatusLabel.Text = "<b>ERROR</b>: " + ex.Message.ToString()
Finally
dbConn.Dispose()
End Try
End Sub

I am pulling my hair out over this and not sure what else to do. I would appreciate any ideas and help on this matter.