Message file sp1.msb not found on windows

Several ORACLE_HOMEs in MS Windows - Error 6 Initializing SQL*Plus. Sp1.Msb Not Found And SP2-750 [metalink ID 466554.1]

Applies to: SQL*Plus - Version: 9.2.0.1 to 10.2.0.1 Microsoft Windows (32-bit) Checked for relevance on 28-Oct-2009 Symptoms New installation of SQL*Plus 10.1.0.4.2 in MS Windows platform. This MS Windows box has several ORACLE_HOMEs, and each of them include different SQL*Plus from different versions (since SQL*Plus 8.1.7.X to 10.2.X). c:\oracle\oms10g\bin\sqlplusw.exe display the following error messages: Error 6 initializing SQL*Plus Message file sp1.msb not found SP2-0750: You may need to set ORACLE_HOME to your Oracle software directory. SQLPLUS environment variable is not setup in registry. ORACLE_HOME is setup in registry and is pointing to the correct path NLS_LANG is using the default value AMERICAN_AMERICA.WE8MSWIN1252. You are connected at operating system level as the owner of the installation, then, these error messages are not related to permissions to access msb files. Cause 1) The environment variables from other ORACLE_HOMES are causing unexpected issues. SP1US.MSB exist in different ORACLE_HOMES: c:\orant\PLUS33 c:\orant\PLUS80 c:\Oracle\client10g\sqlplus\mesg c:\oracle\db10g\sqlplus\mesg c:\oracle\oms\10g\sqlplus\mesg Each ORACLE_HOME has a different SQL*Plus version. 2) FileMon utility from  http://www.microsoft.com/technet/sysinternals/FileAndDisk/Filemon.mspx indicates sqlplusw.exe is looking for sp1us.msb in %ORACLE_HOME%\BIN\SQLPlus\mesg instead of %ORACLE_HOME%\SQLPlus\mesg: 587 7:41:51 AM sqlplusw.exe:700 OPEN C:\Oracle\oms10g\BIN\SQLPlus\mesg\sp1us.msb PATH NOT FOUND 588 7:41:51 AM sqlplusw.exe:700 OPEN C:\Oracle\oms10g\BIN\SQLPlus\mesg\sp1us.msb PATH NOT FOUND It displays "PATH NOT FOUND", and continue researching in different PATHs. After a while, it found the msb files in a different ORACLE_HOME ( C:\Oracle\db10g\RDBMS instead of C:\Oracle\oms10g): 734 7:41:53 AM oracle.exe:1204 OPEN C:\Oracle\db10g\RDBMS\mesg\oraus.msb SUCCESS  735 7:41:53 AM oracle.exe:1204 READ C:\Oracle\db10g\RDBMS\mesg\oraus.msb SUCCESS Solution 1) Copy all the .msb files FROM %ORACLE_HOME%\sqlplus\mesg TO       %ORACLE_HOME\BIN\sqlplus\mesg sqlplusw.exe should work now. We are forcing to use the msb files from the first path SQL*Plus is using(%ORACLE_HOME%\bin). Workarounds --------------------- A) Use sqlplus.exe instead of sqlplusw.exe. Execute sqlplus.exe from command prompt setting ORACLE_HOME and PATH explicitly in the session, without including any path related to other ORACLE_HOMEs. Example: c:> set oracle_home=c:\oracle\oms\10g c:> set PATH=C:\oracle\oms\10g\bin;C:\oracle\oms\10g\jre\1.4.2\bin\client;C:\oracle\jre\1.4.2bin;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem c:> cd %oracle_home%\bin c:> sqlplus.exe B) Create a batch file to setup the environment variables pointing just to your SQL*Plus ORACLE_HOME, and then, call the SQL*Plus executable for Windows (sqlplusw.exe). Example: pluswin.bat ------------------ set ORACLE_HOME=C:\oracle\oms\10g set PATH=C:\oracle\oms\10g\bin;C:\oracle\oms\10g\jre\1.4.2\bin\client;C:\oracle \jre\1.4.2bin;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem set NLS_LANG=AMERICAN_AMERICA.WE8MSWIN1252 %ORACLE_HOME%\bin\sqlplusw.exe