Where to Find ntwdblib.dll Version 2000.80.194.0?

You know that the copy of ntwdblib.dll version 2000.2.8.0 included in Windows binary version of PHP 5.2.3 does not work with MS SQL Server 2005. You need to get a new version of ntwdblib.dll.

One way to get a free copy of ntwdblib.dll is to download MS SQL Server 2000 SP4 from Microsoft Website. It contains a copy of ntwdblib.dll version 2000.80.194.0 in the system directory.

Copy ntwdblib.dll from SQL Server 2000 SP4 package to C:\ntwdblib.dll-new. Check the properties of this file, you will see the version is 2000.80.194.0. Enter this single-statement script, fyi-center.php, for testing:

<?php
  mssql_connect('LOCALHOST','sa','FYIcenter');
?>

Make sure your SQL Server 2005 is running on your machine. Run the following tests in a command line:

C:\test\>copy c:\php\ntwdblib.dll-old c:\php\ntwdblib.dll

C:\test>\php\php fyi-center.php
Warning: mssql_connect(): Unable to connect to server:  
LOCALHOST in C:\test\fyi-center.php on line 2

C:\test\>copy c:\php\ntwdblib.dll-new c:\php\ntwdblib.dll

C:\test>\php\php fyi-center.php
(No warning messages)

These tests show that ntwdblib.dll version 2000.80.194.0 is working with MS SQL Server 2005 Express Edition!

⇒ mssql_connect() - Connecting to Different Port Numbers

⇐ Missing ntwdblib.dll for MSSQL connection

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