Installing Oracle 32-bit Client on Windows Server Already Running 64-bit Oracle Database Server

Question

I have 64-bit Oracle Database Server (11.2.0.3) installed on Windows 2008 R2, and naturally, it automatically installs the 64-bit client. I have to install an application onto this server that is 32-bit and requires the 32-bit Oracle client. (Don't Ask - I can't install the 64-bit version of this app, it won't work with the 64-bit client, and I can't install it on another server.)

Now i have tried installing the 32-bit Client into a different physical folder and selected a different value for the Oracle Base and Software Location when installing and it installed just fine. And it put the BIN folder of the 32-bit Client installation at the head of the PATH statemtn.

However, when i tried to run "SQLplus system/system" with the 32-bit version it gives me the "ORA-12560: TNS:protocol adapter error". When I go into the folder with the 64-bit sqlplus.exe and ran it (directly and not through PATH), the "system/system" credentials worked fine.

I copied the TNSNames folder from the Oracle Server's NETWORK/admin folder to the Oracle Client's NETWORK/admin folder, and rebooted the server. Same results.

This is the extent of my troubleshooting knowledge for Oracle.

How can i get the 32-bit Client to run on the same server as the 64-bit Oracle Server? I know in linux/Unix, you simply put in the lib32 folder into the the 64-bit client folder and set a couple of environment variables, but i'm pretty sure it's not that simple in Windows.

If there is a way to do this, please be descriptive in you answer as I will need step-by-step instructions.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

I had the same issue. Both 32 and 64 bit ORA clients installed on same Windows 10 machine (separate folders) and 32 bit apps stopped working. All I had to do was edit the System Environment variables and DELETE the ORACLE_HOME entry, then re-boot. Windows/Oracle do the rest based on the registry entries. Just need to copy the tnsnames.ora to both installations.