Help installing cx_Oracle

Question

I'm trying to install the cx_Oracle for Python 2.6, but it is failing. I don't know enough about C or MS Vis. Studio's compiler to even approach fixing it myself.

This is what is output on the command line:

C:\pydev\cx_Oracle-5.0.1>C:\python26\python setup.py install running install running build running build_ext building 'cx_Oracle' extension C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\BIN\cl.exe /c /nologo /Ox /MD /W3 /GS- /DNDEBUG -IC:\Oracle\instantclient\sdk\include -IC:\p ython26\include -IC:\python26\PC /Tccx_Oracle.c /Fobuild\temp.win32-2.6-11g\Release\cx_Oracle.obj -DBUILD_VERSION=5.0.1 cx_Oracle.c c:\pydev\cx_oracle-5.0.1\StringVar.c(392) : warning C4018: '>' : signed/unsigned mismatch c:\pydev\cx_oracle-5.0.1\StringVar.c(417) : warning C4018: '>' : signed/unsigned mismatch c:\pydev\cx_oracle-5.0.1\ObjectVar.c(117) : warning C4018: '<' : signed/unsigned mismatch c:\pydev\cx_oracle-5.0.1\ObjectVar.c(134) : warning C4018: '<' : signed/unsigned mismatch c:\pydev\cx_oracle-5.0.1\Variable.c(331) : error C2036: 'void *' : unknown size c:\pydev\cx_oracle-5.0.1\Variable.c(878) : warning C4244: '=' : conversion from 'sb2' to 'sb1', possible loss of data c:\pydev\cx_oracle-5.0.1\Variable.c(914) : warning C4018: '<' : signed/unsigned mismatch error: command '"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\BIN\cl.exe"' failed with exit status 2 

Does anyone have any idea how to fix this? (I also may have an issue with that cl.exe file, I think I remember seeing this as a problem somewhere else, but I have four Windows machines which could have had issue there.).

----------------------------- EDIT -----------------------------

The reason I do not use the pre-compiled installer is because when I try to run the module I get the following:

     Python 2.6.3 (r263rc1:75186, Oct  2 2009, 20:40:30) [MSC v.1500 32 bit (Intel)] on win32     Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.     >>> import cx_Oracle     Traceback (most recent call last):       File "", line 1, in      ImportError: DLL load failed: The specified module could not be found. 

I assume that means that it has not been properly installed. If someone can tell me what I did wrong here, that would also be a perfectly acceptable answer.

----------------------------- EDIT2 -----------------------------

I have retrieved all files from Oracle's Basic Client version 11.1.0.7. I have not tried installing a more substantial client. I am downloading one now.

%ORACLE_HOME%=C:\Oracle\instantclient\ #The directory where the above files have been extracted. 

More information

• The current directory for the cx_Oracle's setup.py is C:\pydev\cx_Oracle-5.0.1
• The version of Python is 2.6.3
• The current directory for Python is C:\Python26 -- to access python 2.6 -> type py26 on the command line and it will map to C:\python26\python