Interesting. When installing Oracle 8.0.4 on NT, there are 2 versions of the listener installed, tnslsnr.exe and the 'new' tnslsnr80.exe.
A service is installed for each. For some reason, the old tnslsnr.exe is setup to start automatically, while the newer tnslsnr80.exe is not. Try connecting internal using the old listener. Or without any listener for that matter. It won't work. I spent a fair amount of time tracking this particular problem down. No, I don't really understand their statement either, at least not from the partial context given. Jared [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent by: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 08/19/2002 07:03 AM Please respond to ORACLE-L To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> cc: Subject: ORA-12500: TNS:listener failed to start a dedicated server process Hi DBAs, This is a partial response from Oracle on ORA-12500: TNS:listener failed to start a dedicated server process "...12500 is a sqlnet error, and you are connecting internal... This usually does not use the listener...." I do not understand this explanation, can someone clarify? Is Oracle saying if you connect via internal that the listener is not used. Thanks Rick -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).