title: InterfaceError: Unable to acquire Oracle environment handle; ORACLE_HOME is correct and SQL*Plus will connect
body: <p>I'm getting the standard "DLL load failed; module not found" error when trying to import cx_Oracle.  I have the proper instant client installed, the paths are all correct... running Dependency Walker tells me I'm missing the following .dll's
  MSVCR90, GPSVC, IESHIMS.</p>
  
  <p>I'm running the instant client for Oracle 11g and Python 2.7.  Anyone have any ideas?  Most of the answers I have found entail an incorrect path, but that doesn't seem to be the case... additionally, I can't find any of those .dll's anywhere else on my system.  </p>
  
  <p>EDIT:
  I ended up installing Oracle XE 11g (32 bit); both Python 2.7 and the cx_Oracle are also 32 bit (I should also add that I'm on Windows).  cx_Oracle now installs cleanly; however upon connection I receive an error:</p>
  
  <pre><code>InterfaceError: Unable to acquire Oracle environment handle
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The ORACLE_HOME path is correct, as is the bin in the PATH folder... </p>