Re: PostgreSQL installation problem on Windows XP Home

A couple of comments:

pgadmin asked you for the postgres database account. NOT for the service
account. The postgres database account is never autogenerated, it is
always entered during the installation (on the initdb page).

To change a users password in any windows version, inculding XP Home,
run:
net user accountname newpassword

If it's a domain account, just add "/DOMAIN" at the end.

If you want to delete it, as others has pointed out already, just run
"net user accountname /delete".

I beleive there are also third-party tools available to do this in a
GUI, but I don't know of any specific tool I can point you at.

//Magnus

-----Original Message-----
From: pgsql-admin-owner(at)postgresql(dot)org
[mailto:pgsql-admin-owner(at)postgresql(dot)org] On Behalf Of Hagop H.
Sent: den 4 mars 2005 22:08
To: PGSQL-novice(at)postgresql(dot)org; PGSQL-cygwin(at)postgresql(dot)org;
PGSQL-admin(at)postgresql(dot)org; PGSQL-general(at)postgresql(dot)org
Subject: [ADMIN] PostgreSQL installation problem on Windows XP
Home

I know that my problem is due to my carelessness and ignorance,
but I didn't think that installing PostgreSQL would cause a state of
affairs not easily reversed. Please excuse the length of the following
narrative.

When installing PostgreSQL 8.0.1 on my laptop running Windows XP
Home (SP2), I let the installer create the postgres account and generate
a password. I didn't write down the password. I figured that if the
installer was going to generate a random password, it would store it in
some configuration or log file and not ask me for it. I was wrong.
(Perhaps a warning for idiots like me would be appropriate in the MSI
installer file?) When I went to connect to the template1 database,
PGAdmin III asked me for the postgres account password, which I was
unable to provide.

Normally this wouldn't be a problem. I figured I'd just start up
Control Panel and change the postgres account password. Unfortunately,
Windows XP Home doesn't provide any obvious tools to change a system
account password. I only know how to change user account passwords.
Control Panel's User Accounts tool is useless for this problem.

I uninstalled PostgreSQL, thinking that reinstalling it might
help. I tried removing the postgres account to no avail. My only
indication that the postgres account still exists is the Windows
Services administration utility. I know of no method to delete the
account. Microsoft's Knowledge Base provided no help. Windows XP
Professional contains a tool called Local Users and Groups (lusrmgr.msc)
that allows the administrator to change any account's password. Windows
XP Home cannot run that program.

When I reinstall PostgreSQL, I am asked for the postgres account
password. I know I could rename the postgres account name to postgres1
or something else, but I don't know if that will create any further
issues for me. I could also upgrade the laptop's OS to XP Pro in order
to change the postgres account password, but that feels like using a
sledgehammer to cut diamonds.

I certainly bear most of the blame. It would be too easy to bash
Microsoft for this. I also wish that PostgreSQL's installer did not
auto-generate passwords that cannot be changed. None of what I went
through was necessary.

If someone could tell me either how to delete the postgres
account or change its password, I would appreciate the assistance.

Regards,

Hagop Hagopian