Getting 'ORA-07446' error

[kaikaufmann]

I am currently in a situation where I accidentally deleted some database files out from under Oracle. I was wondering if there was a way to remove all the references to this database from within Oracle, or by modifying any init files and restarting Oracle.

Can I do this with dbshut and dbstart?

Thanks in advance,
Kai

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
There is a little confusion of terms here..Ther are no databases within Oracle [ it is not SqlServer ]- There are schemas within the instance ( associated with User accounts )and these 'own' objects ( table,views, etc) which are stored in datafiles defined as belonging to a tablespace.

If you delete data files needed by a tablespace there is no way to just eliminate references to just those files.
What, exactly, did you delete?

 

[kaikaufmann]

I deleted files that correlated to the datafile definition of some tablespaces (I think). Basically, when I try to run an uninstall script (drops all objects), I get the error mentioned above. In short, I was trying to remove a previous set of objects that were stored in the wrong directory and trying to re-install with new directory settings.

BTW, I get the whole "no databases in Oracle" thing, it's just a hard habit to break when talking about databases.

Kai

 

[sem]

Are you sure you deleted database data files, not the directory containing coredumps/trace files or anything else? Can you prorovide COMPLETE (and EXACT!) message text?

Regards, Dima

 

[kaikaufmann]

Ok, I tried re-installing oracle after wiping all of my directories as well as the old 817 install directory. Apparently Oracle still seems to know about my old configuration. How is this possible. Is there a way just to do a clean install without bringing over any of the old configuration?

Thanks again,

Kai

 

[Turkbear]

Hi, is there a way for you to answer the questions we have asked..

What files were deleted.
What directories were involved..
The error means that a directory specified in your init<sid>.ora file does not exist..
----------------------------------

ORA-07446 sdnfy: bad value 'string' for parameter string.

Cause: The directory specified as the value for the stated parameter could not be used.

Action: Make sure the directory you have specified is a valid directory/file specification.

We cannot guess what your setup was, or is, without more info..


Help us help you...

 

[sem]

Turkbear, as I understand, he decided to uninstall Oracle completely. Thus the original problem is &quot;resolved&quot;.

Kaikaufmann , there's a number of threads on this issue in this forum, look for them by uninstall keyword in subject line.

Regards, Dima

 

[kaikaufmann]

Ok, I see your point. Here's the complete error output:

SQLException :: (ORA-07446: sdnfy: bad value '/export/home/oracle/test' for parameter user_dump_dest., sqlcode=7446, sqlstate=60000)

Sorry for the confusion,

Kai

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
Yes, I see that now...Its actually too bad, since if it were only a destination folder ( like for user dump files ) that were missing, it could have been recreated with no reinstall needed ( and uninstalling cleanly is no picnic).

 

[sem]

It's not a problem: just specify a new location in init.ora file or recreate this folder. Though, if you already uninstalled it ...

Regards, Dima

 

[kaikaufmann]

Is the inti.ora file located in the dbs directory of the 8.1.7 install? I have looked in there, and I have found no pointers to the directory that Oracle is looking for.

Kai

 

[sem]

The name of this file is init<SID>.ora, where <SID> is your database SID. If this value is not there just add it.

Regards, Dima

 

[kaikaufmann]

Ok, one final question. I have decided to uninstall 8.1.7 entirely and want to start from scratch. I noticed that the install directory actually remains as well as the data directory that Oracle prompts for during the install. I have manually deleted these after the uninstall. The question is: Are there any other places I need to remove files from in order to get a fresh Oracle install?

Thanks Again,
Kai

 

[sem]

&quot;Program Files\Oracle&quot; and registry entries.

Regards, Dima

 

[kaikaufmann]

Oops, I wasn't clear on my OS I guess. I'm running a Sun Sparc machine. So its a unix environment. Sorry for the confusion.

Kai

 

[DBAwhosaysNIE]

further clarification of terms:

&quot;Ther are no databases within Oracle&quot; - WRONG!

an Oracle instance, which is a set of processes (pmon, etc.) with a shared memory segment (a.k.a. SGA), mounts an Oracle database, a set of related control/data/log files. an Oracle instance mounts & uses one and only one Oracle database (strictly speaking; yes, I know all about replication , links & AQ). multiple instances can mount the same database (OPS, RAC, etc.) but not the other way. it is true that what M$ calls a database is more analagous to what Oracle calls a tablespace but the term is applicable (ever done an ALTER DATABASE... ?).

&quot;There are schemas within the instance&quot; - WRONG!

schemas exist within an Oracle DATABASE, not an instance. again, an &quot;instance&quot; is a set of processes & shared memory which use a database.

an instance can be seen by (shell):

pf -ef | grep $ORACLE_SID
ipcs

a database can be seen by (sqlplus):

set pagesize 0
select 'ls -l '||name from v$controlfile;
select 'ls -l '||name from v$datafile;
select 'ls -l '||member from v$logfile;

then exit back to shell & paste output (or don't if you're uncomfortable w/shell operations)

not trying to flame but people in glass houses...

 

[Turkbear]

Hi,
Time to get some curtains...