How does 'STARTUP' know where the pfile is (Win2K/2003)

[JMac]

When I reboot my Windows 2K and Windows 2003 servers I sometimes get 'errors' when the startup command can't find the PFILE.

I remember in 8i on Win2K there was a registry entry - per SID - that directed you to the parameter file. With 9iR2 on Win2003 there is no such registry parameter.

When my server reboots it looks in C:\oracle\ora92\admin for the pfile, however I created my database manually with the pfile at a different location.

As a workaround I have a copy of the pfile at the 'expected' location, but how can I direct startup to look at the 'real' location?

[jmodic]

Nothing has changed, that registry entry is still valid in 9iR2. The registry key is named "ORA_sid_PFILE" under HKLM\SOFTWARE\ORACLE\HOMEn

[JMac]

Not on my machines its not!
There are no PFILE registry entries under HKLM\SOFTWARE\ORACLE\HOME



I didn't use the DBCA to create these new databases. When I issued the CREATE DATABASE command I MOUNTed an instance using a pfile at a specific location. It appears not have created registry entries for this.

Any ideas?

[jmodic]

So what is the problem? Add the key manualy - check http://download-west.oracle.com/docs...ry.htm#1006540 , you'll also find the description of ORA_SID_PFILE registry parameter.

Or use oradim utility.

[JMac]

The problem is 'WHY' the entries weren't created automatically.

[DaPi]

I'm pretty sure that it's ORADIM that creates this kind of thing - did you specify the pfile then?

[JMac]

Hmmmmm ...

Tried creating the key and it didn't work????? I removed my pfile copy at the 'expected' location and set the key to the new location for the pfile. When I attempt to restart I get the original error as Oracle looks in the 'expected' location for the pfile.

Any ideas?

[jmodic]

Then you must have entered something wrong. Either named registry key wrong, or entered it in the wrong location or entered wrong pfile path+name. Why don't you try creating it with ORADIM, as suggested. Syntax is something like this:

oradim -edit -sid YOUR_SID -pfile YOUR_PFILE

After doing this you can check and see where and how the registry key was created - and you'll find out what you were doing wrong when setting it manualy.

[JMac]

Nope! Tried using ORADIM, Jurij, and I get the same result. I'm sure the pfilename and path are correct.

The registry key is created but doesn't seem to be used on startup.

[jmodic]

Do you have more than one oracle_home on that machine?