After inserting the error checking, are you geting the same error message? Your previous error message indicated that the $db variable was not defined. That indicates that your 'new' statement is failing. Fix that before moving on.

I agree with JamesNC. I would use DBI. The knowledge you gain from using it on MS SQL would be (mostly) transferable to Oracle, mysql, etc. Just my 2 cents.

Most importantly, don't give up. Keep plugging away. It's worth it.