ORA-12500

We've been getting this error on an 8.1.6 instance on Windoze NT recently. Only fix seems to be to recycle the server (not just the listener or database). That solves the problem for 3-6 weeks and then it's back again. Anyone else had this? What was the solution. OTS hasn't been much help. They suggest scheduling a server reboot every few weeks. Rubbish! There needs to be a root cause and solution. This same server had ran for 6 months with no problems until this past May.

Here's an excerpt from the listener log for when the problem occurs...

20-AUG-2001 12:51:19 *
(CONNECT_DATA=(SID=pip1)(CID=(PROGRAM=e:\oracle\ora816\bin\ORACLE.EXE)(HOST=
WCHWD09)(USER=SYSTEM))) *
(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=tcp)(HOST=167.140.85.55)(PORT=3305)) * establish * pip1 *
12500
TNS-12500: TNS:listener failed to start a dedicated server process  TNS-12540: TNS:internal limit restriction exceeded   TNS-12560: TNS:protocol adapter error
   TNS-00510: Internal limit restriction exceeded     32-bit Windows Error: 8: Exec format error

--
Chuck Hamilton
chuck_hamilton_at_yahoo.com

"I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes
in me shall live even if he dies." John 11:25b