Re: PostgreSQL installation problem on Windows XP Home

From: Reini Urban <rurban(at)x-ray(dot)at>
To: "Hagop H(dot)" <HagopH(at)hotpop(dot)com>
Cc: PGSQL-cygwin(at)postgresql(dot)org
Subject: Re: PostgreSQL installation problem on Windows XP Home
Date: 2005-03-06 12:27:10
Message-ID: 422AF71E.2070100@x-ray.at
Views: Raw Message | Whole Thread | Download mbox | Resend email
Thread:
Lists: pgsql-admin pgsql-cygwin pgsql-general pgsql-novice

Please don't post to the cygwin list issues not related to cygwin.
You installed the native win32 version.

Installation problems should go to the general list only.
See http://www.postgresql.org/community/lists/

Hagop H. schrieb:
> 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
>

--
Reini Urban
http://xarch.tu-graz.ac.at/home/rurban
http://phpwiki.org

In response to

Responses

Browse pgsql-admin by date

  From Date Subject
Next Message Hagop Hagopian 2005-03-06 19:34:01 Re: [CYGWIN] PostgreSQL installation problem on Windows XP Home
Previous Message Tom Lane 2005-03-05 23:38:26 Re: Build from file syntax troublem.

Browse pgsql-cygwin by date

  From Date Subject
Next Message Hagop Hagopian 2005-03-06 19:34:01 Re: [CYGWIN] PostgreSQL installation problem on Windows XP Home
Previous Message Reini Urban 2005-03-06 12:24:28 Re: installation problem on XP

Browse pgsql-general by date

  From Date Subject
Next Message Tope Akinniyi 2005-03-06 17:11:59 Re: PRoblems instalation PostgreeSQL8.0.1 in WindowsXP
Previous Message Sim Zacks 2005-03-06 11:46:17 two functions in query doubles time??

Browse pgsql-novice by date

  From Date Subject
Next Message John DeSoi 2005-03-06 13:20:01 Re: Getting started - Interfacing questions
Previous Message Sean Davis 2005-03-06 12:20:25 Re: Getting started - Interfacing questions