I am creating a new service name in Net8 --on NT running oracle 8.1.7. Can anyone let me know why I can't start a dedicated server process? Shouldn't it start automatically without user interference?

ORA-12500 doesn't have error explanation in Documentation.
That's all there is to the error... Thanks!
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Initializing first test to use userid: scott, password: tiger
Attempting to connect using userid: scott
The test did not succeed.
ORA-12500: TNS:listener failed to start a dedicated server process

There may be an error in the fields entered,
or the server may not be ready for a connection.