I'm trying to install the MySQL connector on a windows 7 systembut it doesn't show up in the ODBC add window

Question

This is under Windows 7 64 bit. I downloaded the 64 bit drivers and as a matter of fact I tried all the windows drivers(uninstalling the previous ones first though). But when I try to configure a new ODBC connection the MySQL driver doesn't show up.

Do I need to install some other package before I can get the connector to work? Like MDAC or .NET or something else?

Thunderbolt

Answer 1

Try running the ODBC from "C:\Windows\SysWOW64" instead of from "C:\Windows\System32".

Alcoholometer

Answer 2

The key question is whether your ODBC client executable -- the thing that's going to load the driver library and use the data -- is 32-bit or 64-bit. 64-bit Windows (XP, Vista, 7, 8, Server 2003, Server 2008, and all other variants to date) supports both 32-bit and 64-bit binary executables/libraries. 32-bit executables (usually found in Program Files (x86)) can only use 32-bit drivers; 64-bit executables (usually found in Program Files) can only use 64-bit drivers.

Once you've figured that part out, you have to install a matching 32-bit or 64-bit driver for MySQL, and configure it with the right ODBC Administrator. The 32-bit ODBC Administrator is counterintuitively found at C:\Windows\SysWow64\odbcad32.exe, and the 64-bit ODBC Administrator is likewise counterintuitively found at C:\Windows\System32\odbcad32.exe. (Yes, both are named odbcad32 and the directory names suggest the other bitness -- but what I've just said is accurate.)

For more on this, you can read the article posted on my employer's website

Note that for added fun, Microsoft's ODBC driver manager (the MDAC) has a bug in that it shows 32-bit User DSNs to 64-bit client executables (including the Administrator), and it shows 64-bit User DSNs to 32-bit client executables (again, including the Administrator) -- even though these mis-matches cannot work together. For this reason, I strongly recommend using only System DSNs in any environment that may have a mix of 32-bit and 64-bit executables/drivers/DSNs.

Rhombohedron

But shouldn't the 32bit MySQL driver show up using C:\Windows\System32\odbcad32.exe if I installed the 32bit driver? Thanks Pete – Thunderbolt

No -- the System32\odbcad32.exe is the 64-bit Administrator, and will only work against 64-bit drivers. This is where 64-bit drivers will show up. The SysWow64\odbcad32.exe is the 32-bit Administrator, which must be used against 32-bit drivers. This is where 32-bit drivers will show up. Microsoft has a few KB articles about this. I've added a link to one of them above. – Rhombohedron

This answer is more complete than the accepted one and should be the top answer. – Bendy

@user2713461 broke my answer, by reversing the 32-bit and 64-bit paths. They were correct before that edit was applied, and I am correcting them again now. The 32-bit Administrator IS found in SysWow64, and the 64-bit Administrator IS found in System32. – Rhombohedron

Answer 3

If you want to run 32 bit in WIN 7: Download 32 bit version ZIP (f.e. mysql-connector-odbc-noinstall-5.1.13-win32) Run Install.bat Open c:\Windows\SysWow64\odbcad32.exe In User DSN Add and you can choose from 32 bit version drivers

Glyoxaline

Answer 4

"The 32-bit Administrator IS found in SysWow64, and the 64-bit Administrator IS found in System32. – TallTed May 5 '14 at 16:19"

So I ended hell week by following Ted's simple statement. I opened this well-concealed 32 bit exe and Wah La! All the drivers I couldn't see till then were ready and willing to go to work. They had even survived several faux de-installs!

I'm on an iMac running Windows 7 Ultimate on Parallels 10. The MS Access app was built on a Win7 only machine which I was able to link to MySQL by virtue of the random monkey toolset. I was not so lucky on this machine. If Ted's factoid will work on this IMac, it will work anywhere.

btw: It turns out I do have both 32 and 64 bit drivers, Unicode, etc--all three. I am not prepared to sort that one out. :0

Zeist

Answer 5

Access 2013 wouldn't show it until I installed both the 32 bit and 64 bit drivers and then exited and restarted Access.

Fen