Trouble Getting Database Server Started

Trouble Getting Database Server Started

I'm no longer able to connect to the database with psql. PostgreSQL 8.0.0
was included as part of a software package I'm using to collect environmental
data. It is a very simple logging application - mostly a single simple table
with timestamp and 6 integers in each record and on the order of 50K records
over the past 3 weeks. I'm using version 8.0.0 on Windows XP Pro.

The vendor install script for the application installs the database as a Win32 Service
to be launched when Windows boots up. I don't have access to the details of the
install procedure. It has been working fine for 3 weeks but one morning the computer
(I'll refer to it as Computer A) was found powered down and since then I've no
longer been able to connect to the database.

I see from the Postgres archives that one can simply take a copy of the installed
PostgreSQL directory folder and move it in place of the PostsgreSQL folder on a
working system. I took another computer (Computer B) and ran the same installation
script and tested to verify I could connect with psql. Window's Task Manager showed
6 postgres processes: postmaster.exe, pg_ctl.exe, and 4 postgres.exe. (Not sure what
the 4 postgres.exe are for.)

I next replaced the PostgreSQL folder with the one from my Computer A holding my
collected data. After rebooting Computer B, Task Manager shows only postmaster.exe
and pg_ctl.exe. I still can't connect with psql.

Since I had a file system backup of Computer A from about a week prior when everything
was working fine, I tried to see if I could get the archived PostgreSQL directory to
work on Computer B. It also showed just postmaster.exe and pg_ctl.exe running and psql
could not connect either.

I don't know what caused Computer A to power down. It is in a lab and someone may have
inadvertently cut the power. Would that corrupt the database to the point where I can't
connect to it or its startup mechanism be disrupted? I don't know what role those 4
postgres.exe processes fill - are they part of standard postgres startup? Secondly, I
don't know why sliding in the archived PostgreSQL folder on Computer B did not work.

Please let me know if further details are required.

Thanks in advance for any help,
Dirk Kalp