Oracle Error 998

Symptoms
Trying to create an ODBC DSN after installing 10g Instant Client results
in the following errors after selecting the Oracle ODBC Driver:


"The setup routines for the  could not be loaded due to system error
code 998."

followed by

"Could not load the setup or translator library"
Cause
The ORACLE ODBC Driver setup routines (in sqoras32.dll) rely on your
operating system PATH environment variable to be able to load the
resource dll (sqresus.dll).

While using the Oracle Universal Installer with a typical client install
automatically adjusts your PATH environment variable for you, it does
not do so in the case of Instant Client Install.
Fix
1) Confirm your PATH environment variable does not contain the path to
the Instant Client install, by opening a DOS promp and typing PATH:

For example:
C:\>PATH
PATH=c:\windows;c:\windows\system32

Note it does not contain the Oracle directory.

2) Adjust your PATH environment variable

- Right click My Computer, click Properties
- Click the Advanced Tab
- Click Environment Variables
- Under System Variables, find PATH
- Double click it, under Variable Value, add the path to your Instant
Client install to the beginning of the path, and terminate it with a
semicolon
- example: D:\Oracle\product\10.1.0\Client_1;c:\windows;c:\windows
\system32
- Click OK 3 times to exit.

3) Confirm the change by opening a new DOS prompt and type PATH again.

4) You should now be able to add a DSN.