Cloning a database on 8.1.7/Windows 2000

I'm having problems cloning a database on a 8.1.7/Windows 2000 server.
I've done this many times on an 8.0.5/NT server with problems.
I follow the steps as listed in doc 73301.1 up until the ORADIM command. It appears that the Oradim command starts ups the database in exclusive mode. Is something new to 8.1.7. Also, I'd like to use SQL/Plus to connect the instance and issue the create database script, but I can't connect. I know we should use SVRMGRL, but that of course doesn't work with Terminal Server.

So, a long winded lead up to: Has anyone done database cloning on 8.1.7/Windows 2000 using SQL/Plus?