64-bit cx_Oracle: DLL load failed
<p>Using Windows 2008 R2 Server.  Server was completely clean.  Installed 64-bit Python 3.5, 64-bit Oracle Instant Client 12c.  pip installed cx_Oracle successfully.  When I try to run a python script that imports cx_Oracle however, I get:</p>

<pre><code>ImportError: DLL load failed: The specified module could not be found.
</code></pre>

<p>The instant client path is in the <code>PATH</code> environmental variable.  I also made another system variable called <code>ORACLE_HOME</code> with the same instant client path.</p>

<p>I've double checked everything is 64-bit, and looked through SO at the many other times this has come up, and no answer has helped.</p>

<p>First, the environment variable ORACLE_HOME should not be set when an instant client is used. Setting it can have unintended side effects!</p>

<p>Second, if you used pip to install cx_Oracle that suggests you have a compiler and it succeeded in compiling the module. Check to make sure that it used the correct libraries.</p>

<p>Third, you can also download and install a pre-built binary from the PyPI site and see if that helps matters any. Make sure you pick the Python 3.5, 64-bit, Oracle 12c version that is listed there. The PyPI site link is here:</p>

<p><a href="https://pypi.python.org/pypi/cx_Oracle" rel="nofollow">https://pypi.python.org/pypi/cx_Oracle</a></p>

python cx-oracle