Oracle Database Discussions

My Oracle Experence1

With 20yrs computer experience, degree in Math & CompSci and years using RDBMSs(Db2, SqlServer, Informix), MCSD cert , and a solid capable WinXp machine recently started trying to use Oracle… It isn’t doing well, and I’ll be happy to follow any suggested paths to a successful Oracle(Win32) installations... So here’s where I am… (all directly from Oracle Database Software Downloads)

Starting with Oracle Database 10g(win32) Release 2 (cause its used on a AIX box at work) all downloaded well. With more than adequately resourced computer( Dual core, 4G mem, +++) and after reading install prereqs, I tried a all vanilla default installation…
Successfully, till first startup of EM Database Control ->
Error: java.lang.Exception Exception in sending Request null ->

Hmm.. Spent 2 week there! Could do very minor sql plus stuff( barely past logon) but surely a crippled installation! Googled and searched here to never to find adequate or resolving resolution – so, well, since 10g isn’t the most current release( and one suggested resolution was to patch 10.2.0.4) – On to 11g and to get out of the bad
out-a-the box 10g experience… ( If anyone wants’ to suggest a how to complete a successful 10g - feel free…install)

So, on to 11g, - successful install – Em starts – “Certificate Error!” ->continuing,
Can login! Seam to be able to look around a bit – Status Up, instance, host, listener – ok!

On to Manage accounts
1. Log in to Database Control.
2. Click Schema.
3. In the Users and Privileges section of the Schema page, click Users.
Oops - Scheme OK – Where’s Users and privileges section?
Hmm-> it sure doesn’t work like the Doc says!
Cant even get to Users and Privlages… and

I’m getting nowhere fast! Horrible OutOfThe Box experience with Oracle!
(and I’m not a novice computer or dbms user/installer)!

Stalled, stuck, not even close to doing what a dbms is supposed to do yet!

So, Help, Help here – How do I turn this horriable outabox around?

My simple goal – I have a perfect simple SQl2005 database and app running on SQL2005 datasource and want to put it on Oracle(Win32) datasource… (and yes I know and work with Oracle datasources from AIX boxes every day and am familiar with the Oracle SQL pecurlaritaries (ref cursors, sqlpluss, sql developer, crippled command line interfases… and such)

And actually, another purpose is to apply the best possible use of Oracle Tools for Visual isual Studio.

But first I have to get Oracle installed!
Directions Please?

3/30/2008
R Lewis MCSD
rplewis@bellsouth.net