how do i connect oracle 6i to oracle 8 database

[dnantepara]

I have a oracle tools cd pack for oracle developer forms/reports and have installed the programs and the oracle 8i personnel database but cant get the system to connect to the database.
It has been several years since i last used this and cant find any documentation at oracle support on how to establish the connection.
i have this installed on windows xp home.
does anyone know the steps required to get this up and running?
I am trying to refresh my skills for a job and this would be most helpfull.
Thanks
dna

[JChiappa]

Easy : Developer 6i uses NET8 to connect, just config NET8 - you could use the Easy Config tool, but I had many many problems with it in Windows XP (after all, it is a very very old applet, written many moons before XP), so I do the config myself, editing SQLNET.ORA e TNSNAMES.ORA files manually : just remember, the files are in %DEVELOPER_HOME%NET80/admin .

[]s

Chiappa

[dnantepara]

I removed everything and reinstalled just the database and was able to connect to the database using sql and the net8, right after the install , then i rebooted the computer and find that i cannot connect to the database, when i try using net 8 to test the connection or using sql i get the error: ora-01034 oracle not avaliable. what causes this?

[dnantepara]

How to Install oracle 6i 8i on windows xp
I was getting error ora-01034 and could not connect to database on computer restart
Found oracle 8i not certified by oracle to run on windows xp
The problem is the oracle service database_home was hanging is the startup state

Solution
1. install developer 6i to default_home (dir orant)
2. install oracle personnel edition database to default_home2 (dir oracle_data)
3. reboot
4. create a new database (start, oracle-default_home2, database admin, oracle admin)
5. reboot
6. rename orant\net80\admin\tnsnames.ora *.oldora
7. copy oracle_data\network\admin\tnsnames.ora to orant\net80\admin\*
8. edit orant\net80\admin\sqlnet.ora and change the line names.default_domain = world to # line names.default_domain = world
9. change service startup for both oracleservices to manual (start, settings, control panel, administrative tools, services )
10. reboot
11. start service for the second database you created when it has started start the original database service
12. now you can connect to database from developer

[gamyers]

"I am trying to refresh my skills for a job and this would be most helpfull."
Why would you try to 'refresh' skills using products that Oracle no longer supports ?
I'd start by dumping Oracle 8i and downloading a copy of Oracle 10gR2 Express Edition (XE)