Breathing Life into Oracle

So how to you push-start Oracle? Here is a step-by-step guide...
  1. Start the Oracle Listener. The Oracle Listener is a program stored in a file named tnslsnr.exe that is stored in c:\...wherever_you_installed_oracle\bin. Don't just double-click on it. You need to tell it what port to bind to. Typically this is port 1521. Make sure if you have personal firewall software, you enable this port (or temporarily disable it :( Follow these steps to start Oracle Listener.
    diagram of start Oracle Listener
    After Clicking RUN, minimize (NOT close the window)
  2. Start the Personal Oracle Database. Point at your START button, go to Oracle- Personal Oracle- Database Administration- Start Database. The Oracle8i startup box should be displayed (may take a second). When the "Oracle8i database started successfully" pops up, click OK. In your System Tray (the lower right corner where the clock sits) should now have a new icon for oracle.
  3. Connect Client Applications to Oracle. Now that the services are running, what now? Well, now we need to talk to that database.
    1. Start SQL*Plus by going to START-Programs-Oracle for Windows95 and then click SQL Plus 8.0.
    2. At the Log On box, use this info:
      Username: system
      Password: manager
      Host String: po8
  4. When you are finished, reverse the order
    1. Close SQL*Plus
    2. Stop Database (Start-Programs-Oracle-Personal Oracle-Database Administration-Stop Database)
    3. Click on the minimized Listener window and press CTRL + C keys then click on X to close the window