Oracle Database Discussions

Hi all,

I done some reading and seen some of the answers for ORA-12154 questions but I am still not understanding how to fix my ORA-12154 problem. I cannot add the database to visual studio 2008. Everytime I try to setup the connection I ORA-12154 while testing.
I love Oracle but this frustrating.

My computer's name is Big_Tricore (if that helps)
I am trying to connect on the same machine, not across a network.

I would love to know how to fix

Any help is appreciated.

So getting started I have my 10g xe installed in D:\oraclexe.
the output of the echo commands is:

C:\Users\brihno2> echo %ORACLE_HOME%
%ORACLE_HOME%

C:\Users\brihno2>echo %TNS_ADMIN%
%TNS_ADMIN%

My tnsnames.ora file has the following information:

XE =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = Big_TriCore)(PORT = 1521))
(CONNECT_DATA =
(SERVER = DEDICATED)
(SERVICE_NAME = XE)
)
)

EXTPROC_CONNECTION_DATA =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS_LIST =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = IPC)(KEY = EXTPROC_FOR_XE))
)
(CONNECT_DATA =
(SID = PLSExtProc)
(PRESENTATION = RO)
)
)

ORACLR_CONNECTION_DATA =
(DESCRIPTION =
(ADDRESS_LIST =
(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = IPC)(KEY = EXTPROC_FOR_XE))
)
(CONNECT_DATA =
(SID = CLRExtProc)
(PRESENTATION = RO)
)
)