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Native client x86 installation on Windows 8

Former Member
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Can anyone give me advice on how to install MS SQL Server Native Client 11 (for MS SQL Server Express 2012) on Windows 8 x64/64-bit?

I appreciate from previous posts that the Native client x86/32-bit version is required because PowerBuilder 12.5.2 is 32-bit. (If I install the x64/64-bit Native Client, MS SQL Server does not recognise it and advises it is not installed)

However, when I go to the MS x86/32-bit package download site, http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=239647&clcid=0x409 and run the install, I get the message, "Installation of this product failed because it is not supported by this operating system  ..." viz, not compatible with Windows 64-bit OS. 

Does this mean I have to replace Windows 8 x64 with Windows 8 x86?  (sort of like changing my car to fit a spark plug?)  

Bill Beale

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Answers (5)

Former Member
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I did not have much luck so I regret I can't add an 'answer' to the question.

I found going to the various Microsoft sites was like trying to get a glass of water out of Niagara Falls and, at one point, I came across a recipe for pancakes.  Nor did reverting to NC 2008 permit an install.

In summary, the Microsoft documentation said the 32-bit NC is installed when installing the 64-bit NC.  This may be so for earlier releases but it is not the case with Windows 8 and SQL Server Express 2012. 

MS SQL Server did install NC but the 64-bit version - which is not an option for PowerBuilder 32-bit.

In this respect, as Scott Morris graphically demonstrated, even if I could install the 32-bit NC for SQL Server 2012 on Windows 8, the PowerBuilder 12.5.2 Database Profile Setup is hard-code - no doubt for a reason - to only allow selection of NC 2005 or 2008.

The fall-back option, as suggested by David Peace and Roland Smith, was to install NC 2008.  On running the MS .msi download, I got the message, "Installation of this product failed because it is not supported on this operating system..." - the same message I got attempting to install NC 2012 32-bit.

This was unexpected as I have MS SQL Server 2008 (with NC) on a Windows 8 machine.  NC, in this case, was installed from the SQL Server installation and not an .msi download.

(Installing MS SQL Server 2008 just to capture NC is not a viable option as neither I nor two technicians could manage an install of SQL 2008 on the computer in question - an Asus combined tablet and laptop with a i.7 processor - hence my move up to SQL Server 2012).

So it's back to the future and I've set up on an old XP laptop so I can get on with my work.

A dilemma remains, however, and it's perhaps a dilemma for other developers, which is what to tell a client if they ask, "We're moving to SQL Server 2012 (or 2014) and Windows 8.  Is you application compatible?" 

PB 12.6 may be the answer to this question as it has 64-bit.  But it seems implicit from what I've read that you can't migrate an application from 32-bit to 64-bit, this implicit notion coming from a statement that said it would be necessary to develop in both 32-bit and 64-bit - two separate applications.  Stated differently, as I read it, you couldn't develop in 32-bit and migrate that version to a 64-bit version.  Hopefully, I'm wrong on this.

Former Member
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I don't know where you read that 32bit apps can't be migrated to 64bit but it just doesn't make any sense. Why would they even bother if that is the case?

Running apps within the IDE is 32bit always. The exe can be created as 64bit by choosing an option in the project object. There may be a few features not supported in 64bit executables, I don't remember from the beta. They added a new data type LongPtr that automatically switches between 32/64 bit based on the exe mode. This can be used for Win API calls that require it.

Former Member
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I'm relieved to hear that .  I've not used 12.6 but I said it was "implicit" from what I'd read - that was from an SAP site, "If you want to deliver both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of your application, you should use separate projects and separate folders for the deployed output."  My mistake;  I read "project" and was thinking "workspace". 

But the question remains, how will one be able to develop (or deploy) in PowerBuilder using Windows 8 and connect to MS SQL Server beyond MS SQL Server ver 2008?  Am I missing something here, too?

Former Member
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Thanks everyone for your interest.  It look as though there are several options I can try.  I'll post the outcome.

Bill Beale

Former Member
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I don't believe that PB 12.5.1 (classic) supports the latest versions of native client - and I don't think anything has changed in any later build/release.  You will need to install the 32 bit native client version that was released with sql server 2008 (version 10).  Whether that is possible on Windows 8 I can't say - it works on Windows 7.

Former Member
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SQL Native Client is just another ODBC driver to PowerBuilder so as long as it is 32bit, it should work.

Former Member
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Perhaps if you are using a ODBC connection - that I've never tried.  When using SNC connection you have only 2 options for the provider in PB 12.5.1.

Former Member
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So even if he got SQLNCLI11 32-bit installed, it wouldn't work anyway through SNC in PowerBuilder. He needs to install SQLNCLI10.

Former Member
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Hi Bill

I'm not sure that there is a 32 bit version of Windows 8.

You could possibly try installing a MSSQL2008 client instead, this may not have the 64-Bit check in it and allow you to install the 32-bit transport. We have done this on Win7 64-Bit in the past when developing other PB & VS applications.

My guess is you just need to find a way round the installer moaning, the 32-bit version may not be supported but might work fine.

Cheers

David

CobyKako
Advisor
Advisor
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Hello William,

I'll try helping you on this MS question and explain how it may be solved

  1. I think that every version of MS SQL Server installs the client part (e.g SQL Server Native Client) by default
  2. As you said, PB is a 32-bit process and should be used with the x86 package of SQL Server Native Client 11
  3. At this time, I don't know if you installed MS SQL Server Express 2012 on your Windows 8 64-bit but if this is the case, I'm assuming this is the x64 package...since your OS is 64-bit . Hence and if this is possible, you can try to install/reinstall the x86 package of MS SQL Server Express 2012 which will normally install the 32-bit version of the client, compatible with PB.


P.S.:

  • Those links may have helped me answering to you

Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2012

Support Policies for SQL Server Native Client


  • I also encourage you to involve Microsoft support and explain them why you need to install x86 packages on a 64-bit OS



HTH,

Jacob

Former Member
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Thanks for your interest Jacob.

Yes, Native Client 11 x64 was installed along with MS SQL Server Express.  However, the PowerBuilder interface - profile to the DB connection - does not recognise the X64 version and gives an error message that SCN NATIVE CLIENT is not installed.  (SCN Native client is not included in the Service DDLB - only 2005 and 2008). 

Cleary, from previous posts, the DB connection is looking for, and will recognise, an x86 version of NC.  But I can't find a way to install the x86 version on  the 64-bit OS windows 8.  When running the download from the Microsoft download site, the msi responds by saying it is not compatible with my x64 bit OS. 

This is my problem (I think):  How to download the x86 version of NC to a Windows 8 64-bit OS and, if I could somehow achieve that, would the x86 NC run on an 64-bit windows 8 OS? 

I've taken your advice and posted on Microsoft.  Strangely, they do not distinguish between Widows 8 32-bit and 64-bit on the compatibility listing for NC.

CobyKako
Advisor
Advisor
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You're welcome William

Did you try to

  • uninstall the server and client first
  • then install the x86 package of MS SQL Server Express 2012 as suggested and see if the 32-bit version of NC is installed?

Indeed, I'm not 100% sure that MS SQL Server Express 2012 32-bit release is installed on your Win8 64-bit machine