PDO sqlsrv: could not find driver

Question

I trying to connect to an SQL Server in PHP. With XAMPP on my local machine, everything works well. But now I going to bring my application on the production server.

On this server there is installed the Microsoft IIS 6.1 and running the PHP version 7.0.7. I also installed the ODBC Driver from here. Next I decomment the following line in my php.ini file:

extension=php_sqlsrv_7_nts.dll
extension=php_pdo_sqlsrv_7_nts.dll

I got the files from the official microsoft site.

What's my problem?

Unfortunately, after I restarted the IIS. The PDO function throws the PDOException error with the following message:

could not find driver

For the connection I am using the following function which works pretty well on my local machine:

try {
    $con = new PDO("sqlsrv:Server=" . SERVER . ";Database=" . DATABASE, USERNAME, PASSWORD);
    // set the PDO error mode to exception
    $con->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION);
} catch (PDOException $e) {
    echo "No connection: " . $e->getMessage();
    exit;
}

What can I else do?

Answer 1

Here is detailed process if it's helpful for someone. PHP Version - 7.4

1. Download and extract the .dll files from this link - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/php/download-drivers-php-sql-server?view=sql-server-ver15

2. Paste the files in C:\xampp\php\ext, your path could be different.

3. in php.ini add those two lines at bottom or in extension section.

    extension=php_sqlsrv_74_ts_x64.dll
    extension=php_pdo_sqlsrv_74_ts_x64.dll
   

4. Restart your Xampp server, I'll suggest restart your computer and everything will work without an issue then.

Check if SqlSRV enabled

Check using phpinfo() or http://localhost/dashboard/phpinfo.php at like this -

Hope, it will help someone.

Answer 2

After I found the error log on the Windows Server, I solved the error by myself.

I got this error in my log:

[21-Apr-2017 07:12:14 UTC] PHP Warning:  PHP Startup: Unable to load dynamic library '...\ext\php_pdo_sqlsrv_7_nts.dll' - %1 is not a valid Win32 application. in Unknown on line 0

Then I downloaded again the driver and installed the x64-Driver. Finally It works without any problems.

Answer 3

please notice you must use the correct version of php_sqlsrv_xx_xts_xxx.dll and php_pdo_sqlsrv_xx_xts_xx.dll files.

for exmple if you use php version 7.4 and a 64 bit system and wamp you must download and use these files: php_sqlsrv_74_ts_x64.dll php_pdo_sqlsrv_74_ts_x64.dll for download you can use this site: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2152937 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/php/download-drivers-php-sql-server?view=sql-server-ver15

Answer 4

It took some time for me to solve the 'No driver'-error. I went through some steps as mentioned here and found some other ones that helped me after new errors. For future references:

• Download the latest drivers from Microsoft (as said by Julian Schmuckli).
• Check if your XAMPP is 64 bits(!) with Phpinfo(). If you've got 32-bit, you need different drivers.
• Add the drivers to your Php.ini file and save the dll's in your php/ext-folder (question of saber tabatabaee yazdi).
• For the connection, use this code:

$dbh = new PDO ("sqlsrv:Server=$server;Database=$dbname",$username,$pw); 

If you add a port, use:

$server = "192.168.1.15, 51022";

Where the IP (can be hostname to) is your server and 51022 your port.