FAQ: How do I connect to a 32-bit SQL Server instance with ODBC in my 64-bit Windows OS?
Question
I want to connect to a 32-bit SQL Server using ODBC. And I use ODBC Data Source Administrator from Control Panel to create a DSN, however the connection always fails. This issue does not happen on a 32-bit Windows OS.
Answer
For a 64-bit version of Windows OS, the ODBC Administrator utility Odbcad32.exe (in Control Panel\Administrative Tools) is 64-bit. To create a 32-bit DSN, you need to use the 32-bit Odbcad32.exe. You can find it in the %systemdrive%\Windows\SysWoW64 folder.
More Information
https://support.microsoft.com/kb/942976
Applies to
SQL Server 2000
SQL Server 2005
SQL Server 2008
SQL Server 2008 R2