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Why my 32 bit applications cannot see the ODBC DSNs that I created on my 64 bit machine ?

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As we all database developers know that a ODBC DSN is an entry that we created through "ODBC Data Source Administrator" that we reached from Start/Control Panel/AdministrativeTools  or typing "odbcad32" from Start/Run .

On a 64bit machine when you run "ODBC Data Source Administrator" and created an ODBC DSN, actually you are creating an ODBC DSN which can be reachable by 64 bit applications only.

But what if you need to run your 32bit application on a 64 bit machine ? The answer is simple, you'll need to run the 32bit version of "odbcad32.exe" by running "c:\Windows\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe" from Start/Run menu and create your ODBC DSN with this tool.

The key point here to remember is a 64bit machine should be considered as a "64 bit Windows + 32 bit Windows" at the sametime. That's why the folder that our developers put the 32bit "odbcad32.exe" under C:\Windows\SysWOW64\. The WOW abbreviation here means "Windows on Windows"  ;)

That's why, it might be a good idea to have a look at the C:\Windows\SysWOW64\ for the EXE files at least to know what sort of other EXEs/DLLs are also compiled as 32bit and shipped within your 64bit OS.

For example cscript.exe and wscript.exe are ther for your WSH (Windows Scripting Host) scripts which needs to be run as 32bit. Think about a scenario like that. Only the 32 bit version of the OLE DB Provider or ODBC Driver exists for the data source that you need to get the data from your VBScript code.  If it's the case, you'll need create the ODBC DSN (assuming that you're going to use ADO + ODBC in your VBScript code) from C:\Windows\SysWOW64\odbcad32.exe and also you should call your script as

"C:\Windows\SysWOW64\wscript.exe C:\scripts\myscript.vbs".

Doubleclicking the myscript.vbs from the Windows Explorer will result your script to be executed as

"C:\Windows\System32\wscript.exe C:\scripts\myscript.vbs".

Hope I managed explaining the WOW philosophy for a 64 bit Windows a little bit in my words and can help you in your projects :)

Comments

  • Anonymous
    June 16, 2009
    PingBack from http://fixmycrediteasily.info/story.php?id=15034

  • Anonymous
    April 21, 2011
    Thank you for the clarity of your explanation

  • Anonymous
    April 24, 2011
    thanks jack!

  • Anonymous
    August 14, 2011
    On a side note, any idea why user DSN are visible to 32bit apps but Stsyem ones are not?

  • Anonymous
    August 23, 2011
    User DSNs are available to the current user logged on to the machine. System DSNs are available to all users on the machine. if the User DSN is shown in 32bit odbcad32.exe and iIf the 32bit app is ran by the user's credentials all should work fine. Please check who runs the 32bit app by checking it from task manager to see which user is spawned it.

  • Anonymous
    September 07, 2011
    Another note.. The above works only when you have DSN's. What about DSN Less connections, where the application is using a connection string to connect. The 32 Bit Application cannot see the SYSWOW64 folder. Example: Visual FoxPro (32 bit) on Windows 7 (64 bit) does not connect to an oracle database. The driver is installed in SYSWOW64, but Visual FoxPro fails to connect

  • Anonymous
    July 04, 2012
    Thanks for the explain. So every time I run a vbscript that implement 32bit odbc drivers , I have to run 32bit cscript or wscript.It's not convenient,why microsoft don't provide a method that I can indicate the driver in my own script,so that the script users can just double click it.

  • Anonymous
    September 11, 2012
    Hi Faruk, thanks for explanation, but what if my odbcad32.exe from C:WindowsSysWOW64odbcad32 doesn't work, and it gives me just blank window with "i" in it. I'm having problem to get NotesSQL to ODBC as it's running from System32 folder only. Any idea?

  • Anonymous
    September 20, 2012
    Hi Juraj, C:WindowsSysWOW64odbcad32.exe should work and it's the first time that I hear it's showing a blank Windows with "i" in it. Could you please take a screenshot, upload to some image upload place and put a link here for me to see it ? thanks, faruk

  • Anonymous
    January 11, 2013
    I follow your instructions but I cannot connect to Oracle client. I have Oracle client in my group and works but when I move to a domain account I can not connect.

  • Anonymous
    February 22, 2013
    Thank you for the excellent explanation!

  • Anonymous
    March 22, 2013
    Hi, I'm not a developer and I don't need ODBC.  So,  do I need C:WindowsSysWOW64wscript.exe ? My firewall blocks it.. so should I allow access to it?  Thanks...need your advise!

  • Anonymous
    December 10, 2013
    Wow! (pun intended) Finally a really good tidbit of info!  Thanks so much! Now I know why my cscript ...vbs was giving me the architecture mismatch.

  • Anonymous
    June 11, 2014
    Thank you, this solved my problem with executing a vbscript through cscript, much appreciated!

  • Anonymous
    June 13, 2014
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    June 17, 2014
    yes, C:WindowsSysWOW64odbcad32.exe works

  • Anonymous
    November 07, 2014
    My .net application referring to C:windowssystem32odbcad32.exe But my DSN is only configured under SysWOW64odbcad32.exe I am not able to add DSN under system32odbcad32.exe, as my DB2 drivers are not visible when I am trying to add it. Could you please let me know the solution to point my application to SysWOW64odbcad32.exe Please help. Thanks Santosh S

  • Anonymous
    December 14, 2014
    I'm using ODBC to connect MS Access file (Access file is protection by password). But I insert the password to Advande Option in C:windowssysWOW64odbcad32.exe It work with non password Access file. How to connect to Access file with protection !