      Function CheckExistingUsername(ByVal username As String) As Boolean

      Dim UserExists As Boolean = False
      Dim strConn As String = System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("Fullconnection").ConnectionString
      Dim MySQL As String = "Select username from tUser where Username=@Username"
      Dim MyConn As New SqlConnection(strConn)
      Dim objDR As SqlDataReader
      Dim Cmd As New SqlCommand(MySQL, MyConn)
      Cmd.Parameters.Add(New SqlParameter("@Username", username))

      Try
      MyConn.Open()
      objDR = Cmd.ExecuteReader(System.Data.CommandBehavior.CloseConnection)

      While objDR.Read()
      UserExists = True
      End While

      Catch ex As Exception
      LogError("GlobalClass.vb :: CheckExistingUsername", ex.ToString)
      Finally
      MyConn.Close()
      CheckExistingUsername = UserExists
      End Try
      End Function