Re: Unable to start server - winxp

Thanks for all the help guys,
I actually found the problem and solution.

Maybe for others who will have this, let me recap:
- While installing the msi file I had to disable the initialization in the installer, because of installation on a FAT32 partition
- I then ran the initdb.exe, typing in my own database directory in the commandline using "initdb -D databasedir"
- I then wanted to start the postgresql server using the command "postgres -D database" , where 'database' is the directory
- I got an error I can't run as an admin, but a unpriviledged user needs to start it.

The solution:
- in the initdb.exe, always type "initdb -D ../data", and no other directory. Reason: the service installed in windows xp always points to the data folder within the postgres installation directory. I haven't found a way to change that, so I just run initdb for that dir. Then start the service in the windows service panel (configuration - system control - services - postgresql)

Extra information: Within the installer, the first 'account name' you encounter is the new windows service user account created. The second 'user' in the installer is the superuser for accessing the database.

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For me this was a long way of founding out, but now I did and I could access the database. So maybe a lot think now I'm a noob with accounts and users and stuff - well maybe I am. I never installed one before, it always was available for me on the webserver I use. But now I need to work a lot with postGIS and mapserver and it's better to do that offline, so that's the reason I jumped into installing it myself.Looking at your answers you think I had a complete other problem. About postmaster.exe - I don't even know where to find that one. Windows found that one himself when the service was installed I suppose.
-Joost

> Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2006 18:39:38 +0100> From: magnus(at)hagander(dot)net> To: jkuckartz1984(at)hotmail(dot)com> CC: plk(dot)zuber(at)gmail(dot)com; pgsql-general(at)postgresql(dot)org> Subject: Re: [GENERAL] Unable to start server - winxp> > > So there's no other way to start the server else than to create an> > unpriviledged winxp user account, or change my user account (and forever> > not be able to install programs, change settings etc etc.)? There must> > be, I can't imagine postgresql is in backwards world: making the admin> > less priviledged than an unpriviledged user.> > Taking a peek back through the archives on this, let me just add one> piece of information: You *can* start the server from an admin account,> but you have to start it with pg_ctl (or as a service). You can *not*> start it by directly executing postmaster.exe. This is because you can> only give up privileges permanently if you cross a process creation> boundary, which pg_ctl does.> > Oh, and this is only in 8.2 of course - for 8.1 and earlier you have to> use a non-admin account.> > >> I can't understand why you didn't follow the standard installer (MSI> >> package) way of setting things up.> >>> > > > Actually, I did. I didn't change any of the settings pre-given, but> > still I can't start the postgresql server. The installer refused to> > initiate the server though, because it's on FAT32. But for that I used> > the initdb.exe.> > If you're running on FAT32, you are doing yourself a *major* disservice.> But it's your choice.> Beware that there are some things that don't work on FAT32. For example,> tablespaces won't work. I can't recall offhand if there is anything> else, but you're certainly at a *much* larger risk of issues with that> choice.> > //Magnus
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