connect to paradox db via ado.net 2.0

Question

I am writing an application in vb.net 2005 to insert/update/select data to
paradox database file(.db---bde 5.01)
1)what is the best way to go about it?
Note:
I have tried to connect to paradox database via odbc or oledb
a)Dim odbcconnstr As String = "Driver={Microsoft Paradox Driver (*.db )};DriverID=538;Fil=Paradox
5.X;DefaultDir=I:\pardoxData;Dbq=I:\pardoxData\;CollatingSequence=ASCII"
b)Dim oledbconnstr As String = "Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=I:\pardoxData;Extended
Properties=Paradox 5.x;"

The problem with (a)odbc.net is unable to select data from memo/blob field.
the application is crashing

The problem with (a)(b)oledb is : select query returning wrong results.for instance,follwing
query(exact case) dispalying correct results.
select * from mytable where firstname='JOHN'

however, following query(lower case) displaying all the records firstname
starts with 'j' or 'jo' or .....
select * from mytable where firstname='john'

firstname datatype is charater(21) in paradox database

thanks in advance
vijay1