Cannot initialize the data source object of OLE DB provider “MSDASQL” for linked server “(null)”

Question

Having an interesting issue. I\'m reading from an excel file on a server via an OpenRowset in Sql2005. I\'ve run the query a number of times without any problems. I\'ve just

Answer 1

I had to download and install "Microsoft Access Database Engine 2010 Redistributable" available here.

"The cause of this issue is that there is no 64-bit ODBC text driver installed on your 64-bit Windows server 2003 actually. The 64-bit MSDASQL just provides an OLEDB/ODBC 'bridge' that allows applications built on OLEDB and ADO (which uses OLEDB internally) to access data sources through ODBC drivers." Source