PGSQL Crossroads

I'm at a crossroads with PGSQL. I want to use it with PHP to develop
web databases as part of my job. I've developed using Access and
Visual Basic, but I like the open source concept better and I like the
features of PGSQL.

Having said that, I've already burned a good 20 hours going through
every tutorial I could find on the net to get PGSQL running under
WinXP Home and met nothing but failure after failure.

So I decided to install PGSQL 8-beta. That went fine.

I checked out the documentation and it doesn't provide any information
how to run the darn thing.

While I don't want to, I'm now faced with going the PHP / MySQL route
due to the much better documentation. I really don't want to, but
what choice do I have when no information is available how operate
this darn thing in a WinXP development environment?

Having gone through this experience, I can fully understand why PGSQL
is so rarely used relatively to MySQL - even when people like me
really don't want to use MySQL.

I would happily post a step by step tutorial detailing exactly how to
get stuff done for the non Linux experts, but I'm stuck neck deep in
the mud.

I've isntalled and configured PHP and Apache. I learned enough VB and
Access from scratch (reading Wrox books) to develop three very useful
databases for small and large companies.

Come heck or high water, though, I can't install and configure even
the basics of PGSQL. I isntalled PGSQL 8-beta and, to tell you the
truth, I haven't got a clue what to do beyond staring at the
installation folders.

Do I still need Cygwin? Do I follow the Cygwin tutorial even though I
installed the .msi version? I have no clue and I am frustrated beyond
all get out.

Can anybody help here or am I hung out to dry because I'm not a Linux
guru? Should I just go with MySQL due to the existence of
documentation that actually will work when applied? I really, really
don't want to, but maybe PGSQL just isn't ready for non-Linux gurus.

Heck, not even the gurus can put together information that, when
followed, installed and configured PGSQL on my WinXP box. I got
close... I got initdb to work... but that's it. postmaster and
PGSQL wouldn't start due to various errors.

UGGGGH!

Any help would be appreciated. A tutorial, a link to some notes,
anything.

TIA...

ps - sorry for being sour about this... but this is frustrating
coming from a non Linux/PGSQL background.