Oracle 10g not for testing

Update 2009-10-01: If you run into the following story - you have to run Oracle 10 g on Windows Server 2003 R 2 - Use Oracle Database 10g Release 2 (10.2.0.1.0)

2009-09-28: Just a "quick" install of Oracle 10g Standard Edition (10.1.0.2.0) on a virtual server to test creation of a database from a template built off an existing oracle database instance on another server.

The installation reports a Java VM installation error "details in hs_err_pid.log" Update 2009-10-01: the log does not appear to exist on the machine D:\oracle\product\10.1.0\db_1\BIN\*.log.

An unexpected exception has been detected in native code outside the VM.
Unexpected Signal : EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION (0xc0000005) occurred at PC=0x77BD8FA7
Function=wcsncpy+0x16
Library=C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSVCRT.dll ...

The DBCA - Database Configuration Assistant works for every activity except when walking through the process of creating a database from a template... When Step 10 of 12 : Initalization Parameters is set to hit NEXT (good bye DBCA) - No Log, No Warning, Nothing - just a gone DBCA.

Attempt to reinstall the tool (installer - custom - show all - reinstall) provides you the same none descriptive Java VM installation error message.

Google searches on "Java VM installation error", "Oracle 10g installation error", "Database Configuration Assistant Crashes" leads one to believe this is a known bug in Java HotSpot VM - bug where is a simple to understand download/update of it?

The best that I can understand is that this is a known bug in Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 1.4.2_01-b06, mixed mode) that is causing the crash.

From what I see via Oracle and Sun – Java "Support" {build 1.4.2.x is very old – upgrade to a newer version}

I wonder where to get the newest build of 1.4.2.x, old from Sun’s perspective, but what Oracle 10g R1 is using.

http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/oraclenet/pdf/ADsupport_10g.pdf
Oracle® Database
Platform Guide
10g Release 1 (10.1) for Windows
Part No. B10113-02
June 2004

Section 3.2 Pg 51, 52

Creating a Database on Windows Using Database Configuration Assistant
Oracle recommends you use Database Configuration Assistant to create a database,
because it is easier. It offers the same interface and operates the same way on all
supported platforms, so no step-by-step procedures or screen shots are included here.
Database Configuration Assistant enables you to:
■ Create a Database
■ Configure Database Options in a database
■ Delete a Database
■ Manage Templates
An initialization parameter file is an ASCII text file containing parameters. It can be
used to create and modify a database using command-line tools. When you create a
database using Database Configuration Assistant, a server parameter file (SPFILE) is
created from the initialization parameter file, and the initialization parameter file is
renamed. Oracle does not recognize the renamed file as an initialization parameter file,
and it is not used after the instance is started.
If you want to modify an instance created with Database Configuration Assistant after
it starts up, you must use ALTER SYSTEM statements. You cannot change the SPFILE
itself, because it is a binary file that cannot be browsed or edited using a text editor.
The location of the newly-created SPFILE is ORACLE_BASE\ORACLE_
HOME\database. The SPFILE filename is spfileSID.ora.
See Also: "Managing Initialization Parameters Using a Server
Parameter File" in Oracle Database Administrator's Guide