Linked Remote Server

I need to be able to query remote server tables and join them to local tables. Thought that linked server would be best so that I can use local stored procs for parameters if needed. I have no administrative control over remote server. I have been given select permissions only to one db on remote server. Both servers are sql2000, local machine has spk3.

I have established the remote server in network client utility. I can register the remote server in EM, look at tables. I can run select statements against the remote server in QA when I log in and specify that server. I can reference an odbc data connection with web pages and display rowsets.

Next, I created a linked server under security, using sql (since it's an sql 2000 db) with the same name used above in the client utility and the em. I created a local login with the same name and password as the login used successfully above (Paragraph 2). On the security tab, I've used sa as the local login and entered the remote user and password, using the default 'be made without using a security context'. When I try to view the tables (which I can do through registered) or run this through QA:
SELECT * FROM OPENQUERY(CASCE, 'SELECT person_pk, lastname FROM dbName.dbo.tblName (NOLOCK)'),

I get: sql error 17: sql server does not exist or access denied

If I edit security, wipe out the top settings and specify the security context below using the login information, same thing. Tried messing around with different security contexts, no help or ole db error.

Any help? In addition, any tutorials out there a little more user friendly than the bol? I think I want to use the linked server option and stored procs.