I never had so much trouble installing an Oracle version on a Windows OS as I had with installation of Oracle 11R2 on Windows 7 (64-bit). The issues I faced were twofold:
- First I got messages (during installation of the software) that files could not be found in the target oracle folder
- Second, after finding the solution for the first annoyance, I spent two hours finding out why everything installed correctly, I could create a database, but could not start a Listener. I am an Administrator on my laptop. The errors I got at starting a listener were ORA-12560 and ORA-12541.
Regarding 1:
It appeared to be very simple: when you download Oracle 11 R2, there are two zip files. Make sure to extract both zip files into the same folder and not into two separate folders (like a Disk1 and Disk2 folder). After extracting both zip files into the same folder, the installation went smooth without errors.
Regarding 2:
After a fresh installation and creation of a database, I am used to open a Command prompt, start LSNRCTL, and execute a START to start the default listener. If a Windows Service does not exist yet, LSNRCTL throws some errors around that but as part of this it creates the Windows Service. But not this time. I kept on getting the result:
C:\>lsnrctl start LSNRCTL for 64-bit Windows: Version 11.2.0.1.0 - Production on 18-MRT-2011 21:48:56 Copyright (c) 1991, 2010, Oracle. All rights reserved. Starten van tnslsnr: Even geduld a.u.b. TNS-12560: TNS: fout bij protocoladapter. TNS-00530: Fout in protocoladapter.
and a LSNRCTL status gave me:
C:\>lsnrctl status LSNRCTL for 64-bit Windows: Version 11.2.0.1.0 - Production on 18-MRT-2011 21:52:02 Copyright (c) 1991, 2010, Oracle. All rights reserved. Verbinding wordt gemaakt met (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=1.1.1.1)(PORT=1521))). TNS-12541: TNS: geen listener. TNS-12560: TNS: fout bij protocoladapter. TNS-00511: Geen listener 64-bit Windows Error: 61: Unknown error C:\>
But no listener got created. The Oracle support site, nor any forum or blog pointed me in the correct direction. The only thought I had was: I know Windows requires the Listener to be present as a Service, so as long as that is not the case, it will not start. So here is what I tried: I created the service myself using the Windows “sc” command. Now a first attempt gave an Access Denied, but after storing the command in a Batch file and executing the batch file to “Run as Administrator” (right-click the command file and choose that option), the service got created!
The SC command used was: sc create OracleOraDb11g_home1TNSListener binPath= “C:\app\toine\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\BIN\TNSLSNR.exe” (take care of the space after binPath= !)
And after starting it using the Service Control Panel, LSNRCTL gave me a good status:
C:\>lsnrctl status LSNRCTL for 64-bit Windows: Version 11.2.0.1.0 - Production on 18-MRT-2011 21:57:57 Copyright (c) 1991, 2010, Oracle. All rights reserved. Verbinding wordt gemaakt met (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=1.1.1.1)(PORT=1521))). STATUS van LISTENER ------------------------ Alias LISTENER Versie TNSLSNR for 64-bit Windows: Version 11.2.0.1.0 - Production Startdatum 18-MRT-2011 21:57:48 Ingeschakeld 0 dagen 0 uren 0 minuten 9 seconden Traceerniveau support Beveiliging ON: Local OS Authentication SNMP OFF Parameterbestand van listener C:\app\toine\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\network\admin\listener.ora. Log van listener c:\app\toine\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\log\diag\tnslsnr\mypc\listener\alert\log.xml Traceerbestand van listener c:\app\toine\product\11.2.0\dbhome_1\log\diag\tnslsnr\mypc\listener\trace\ora_6728_7012.trc Overzicht beluisteren eindpunten... (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=1.1.1.1)(PORT=1521))) Overzicht van services... Service "ONTW112. MYPC.MYDOMAIN.NL" heeft 1 instance(s). Instance "ONTW112", toestand UNKNOWN, heeft 1 handler(s) voor deze service... Uitvoeren van opdracht is geslaagd.
and I could login using Oracle Net 🙂
The problem appeared to be Administrative privileges. Which was not obvious to me at first. I wondered why the installer could create all necessary services, whereas LSNRCTL was not able to create the Listener service. I stopped and deleted the service again (using “sc delete”) and started LSNRCTL.EXE as Administrator (go to the Oracle\bin folder and right click LSNRCTL.EXE. That lead to the same result: a START within that LSNRCTL session created the Windows Service as I am used to from other Oracle installations on Windows I did many times.
After all it is probably a logical error on Windows 7. What bugs me is that I did not read it somewhere and that the errors did not point me to the problem. They pointed me towards some network problem. I almost wonder whether I missed some guideline. Still, it may help others, who have the same trouble.
Toine van Beckhoven's Oracle blog 
I had exactly the same problem using windows server 2008 and oracle 11, I had figured it was an administritive issue and tried running netca as admionistrator, which didn’t seem to help. I hadn’t considered creating the service myself, so thanks for the heads up, worked a treat.
Thanks Stew. I still wonder if I am missing something in the documentation or in my understanding of how Windows 7/2008 work, but I am glad too I have a working 11 R2 on my laptop.
Got the same problem…thanks a lot for this very useful blog !
Starting a listener requires administrative privileges. Opening the cmd prompt with Administrator privileges (Search for cmd and right click and run as administrator) and then issuing lsnrctl start worked and started the listener.
Once the listener has started, lsnrctl status produced the correct status.
I’m unable to install the latest Oracle for win 64bits. I use win7 64bits and I install as admin. During the installation a warning is shown: you must set two variables at the prompt. I set it (as admin) and I can run everything ( sqlplus, SQL Developer ) BUT I can’t start the service or use the EM. Can someone please help me out? I’ve tryed everything from official docs and from others places. I can’t still using the Express version (it works perfect). Any Idea?
OS: Win7 64bits
RAM: 4GB
Processor: Intel E5700
Any help will be appreciate.
UNQNAME and BASE_DIR, Oracle Dir, every dam* SET I’ve done. But the EM still not working. I’ve installed with a new installed win7, without antivirus or firewall on.
Thank you in advance.
Hi Luiz,
I am affraid I do not fully understand the problem:
1. What version are you installing? Enterprise edition, Standard Edition?
2. what exactly is the warning you get, which two variables are mentioned?
3. Which service are you talking about that you cannot start? A database instance service? Were you able to create a database instance?
4. You say you “can’t still using the Express version (it works perfect)”…I do not understand what you mean here: are you now installing Oracle XE which works or does not work on Win7 64-bit? The sentence is somewhat contradictary (“can’t” versus “it works perfectly”)
Toine
Try run LSNRCTL as Administrator as mentioned above but still can not get the listener service to created and I tried start, status, reload all lead to this error.
Any suggestion /help would be so appreciative.
Bill
LSNRCTL> reload
Connecting to (DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx)(PORT=15
21)))
TNS-12541: TNS:no listener
TNS-12560: TNS:protocol adapter error
TNS-00511: No listener
64-bit Windows Error: 61: Unknown error
LSNRCTL>
I had the same listener problem on Win7 64bit using Oracle Express Edition but unfortunately your, solution did not work.
Worked like a charm. Thank you very much.
Note: I still can’t START my listener from the cmd prompt, only from the Services.
Hi, I have the same problem and the solution works for me. Thanks!
Great job, helped me out as i had the same issue
I’ve got the same troubles. The solution works great. Super! thanks a lot!