Why is my SQLServer CE code failing?

if (! TableExists("table42"))
{
	DBUtils.CreateTable42();
}

public static bool TableExists(string tableName)
{
	try
	{
		using (SqlCeConnection sqlConn = new SqlCeConnection(@"Data Source=\my documents\Platypus.SDF"))
		{
			sqlConn.Open();
			string qryStr = "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM INFORMATION_SCHEMA.TABLES WHERE TABLE_NAME = ?";
			SqlCeCommand cmd = new SqlCeCommand(qryStr, sqlConn);
			cmd.Parameters[0].Value = tableName;
			cmd.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
			int retCount = (int)cmd.ExecuteScalar();
			return retCount > 0;
		}
	}
	catch (Exception ex)
	{
		MessageBox.Show("TableExists " + ex.Message);
		return false;
	}
}

public static void CreateTable42()
{
	try
	{
		using (SqlCeConnection con = new SqlCeConnection(@"Data Source=\my documents\Platypus.SDF"))
		{
			con.Open();
			using (SqlCeCommand com =  new SqlCeCommand(
						

	   "create table table42 (setting_id INT IDENTITY NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,  setting_name varchar(40) not null, setting_value(63) 

varchar not null)", con))
			{
				com.ExecuteNonQuery();
				WriteSettingsVal("table42settingname", "table42settingval");
			}
		}
	}
	catch (Exception ex)
	{
		MessageBox.Show("CreateTable42 " + ex.Message);
	}
}

public static void WriteSettingsVal(string settingName, string settingVal)
{
	using (SqlCeConnection sqlConn = new SqlCeConnection(@"Data Source=\my documents\Platypus.SDF"))
	{
		sqlConn.Open();
		string dmlStr = "insert into tabld42 (setting_name, setting_value) values(?, ?)";
		SqlCeCommand cmd = new SqlCeCommand(dmlStr, sqlConn);
		cmd.CommandType = CommandType.Text; 
		cmd.Parameters[0].Value = settingName;
		cmd.Parameters[1].Value = settingVal;
		try
		{
			cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
		}
		catch (Exception ex)
		{
			MessageBox.Show("WriteSettingsVal " + ex.Message);
		}
	}
}