JDBC Error establishing socket

We are trying to resolve a JDBC Error establishing socket. Any help is much appreciated!

Details: java class files compiled in jdk 1.14.
All files (classes and database) are loaded on the dicountasp.net server.
Database: MS SQL. We are using SQL 2000.
It "seems" that the socket on both ports 1433 and 14330 are ok.
Our code renders the charts on the page but not the data portion.
Browser: IE 6.0.2800

Here is our code:
---------------------------
dbCon = java.sql.DriverManager.getConnection(
"jdbc:microsoft:sqlserver://mssql03.discountasp.net:1433;databaseName=DB_, "username",
"password");

------------------------------------------------------
Below is the Error:

java.sql.SQLException: [Microsoft][SQLServer 2000 Driver for JDBC]Error establishing socket.

at com.microsoft.jdbc.base.BaseExceptions.createException(Unknown Source)

at com.microsoft.jdbc.base.BaseExceptions.getException(Unknown Source)

at com.microsoft.jdbc.base.BaseExceptions.getException(Unknown Source)

at com.microsoft.jdbc.sqlserver.tds.TDSConnection.<init>(Unknown Source)

at com.microsoft.jdbc.sqlserver.SQLServerImplConnection.open(Unknown Source)

at com.microsoft.jdbc.base.BaseConnection.getNewImplConnection(Unknown Source)

at com.microsoft.jdbc.base.BaseConnection.open(Unknown Source)

at com.microsoft.jdbc.base.BaseDriver.connect(Unknown Source)

at java.sql.DriverManager.getConnection(Unknown Source)

at java.sql.DriverManager.getConnection(Unknown Source)

at untitled1.SliderContainerApplet.getConnection(SliderContainerApplet.java:427)

at untitled1.SliderContainerApplet.getdatafromdatabase(SliderContainerApplet.java:117)

at untitled1.SliderContainerApplet.jbInit(SliderContainerApplet.java:108)

at untitled1.SliderContainerApplet.init(SliderContainerApplet.java:44)

at sun.applet.AppletPanel.run(Unknown Source)

at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)

Error Trace in getConnection() : [Microsoft][SQLServer 2000 Driver for JDBC]Error establishing socket.

java.lang.NullPointerException

at untitled1.SliderContainerApplet.getdatafromdatabase(SliderContainerApplet.java:126)

at untitled1.SliderContainerApplet.jbInit(SliderContainerApplet.java:108)

at untitled1.SliderContainerApplet.init(SliderContainerApplet.java:44)

at sun.applet.AppletPanel.run(Unknown Source)

at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)