Where to download the f**** Client

I had the same problem as this very aptly titled (but expired) post. And found a solution and survived. The original poster wanted to use Toad, which requires the Oracle client, and could not find it at the technet.oracle.com site -- so what's new ? :-)

Here's the steps, hope it helps other folks with the same problem:

1. Go to http://technet.oracle.com/software/content.html
2. In the "Select a utility or driver" drop down, select "Oracle provider for OLE DB"
3. Download and install "Oracle8i Release 3 Provider for OLE DB Version 8.1.7.2.0"
4. Get the correct tnsnames.ora text from your DBA and put it in the home\network\admin directory.
5. At the DOS prompt, the following verifies if your client is working: "tnsping yourinstancealias"
6. Toad should work at this point. It gives error "details" that can be helpful too.

--Ali Received on Wed Nov 21 2001 - 15:39:06 CST