Christine,

when PostgreSQL does not start on Windows, the first place to look for errors is the Microsoft Windows EventLog. That is the standard place to report errors.

You can dig there via Control Panel; exact click path depending on your Windows Version (XP / Vista / W2003 / W2008 / W7); or start a commandline and type eventvwr (works on all)

There you go to the errors of "Application"; and track down the information of the PostgreSQL service.

In my experience (~ 200 different Windows Computers in ~15 Administrative Environments)  the most common errors are:

- "something" is taking away the "run-as-service"-privilege of the postgres-Windows-User. Likely culprits for "something" are GroupPolicies within ActiveDirectory. To be more challenging, it does not happen immediately, but after x days of normal working

- "something" is taking away access rights to the PostgreSQL Data Directory / the PostgreSQL Configuration files

- Switching distributions between versions (from pginstaller to one click installer or vice versa)

- Difference within PostgreSQL packagings ("pg_debugger" was default acitvated in 8.3.0-8.3.4; and is no more default activated by default in 8.3.7; a line with "preload pg_debugger " in postgresql.conf may lead to non starting PostgreSQL service)

- Some (anti)viral products block the access off ports; or files, or starting of processes by Postgresql.

Most of these errors are best detected by checking the error log. (just with AntiVir Products you're in the wild, most of the time. Check their logfiles!)

Harald






On Thu, Apr 23, 2009 at 5:08 AM, Christine Penner <christinep@telus.net> wrote:

I get no error. The only way I know its not connected is by trying to log in to pgAdmin. It tells me the server doesn't listen. Then I told it to start. Last time that worked. Now it won't start at all but it never gives any error.

When I tried to open it with pg_ctl it tells me can not open PID file (Postmaster.pid). Permission denied. That's odd because I am an administrative user on Vista and it was working at one point.

Should Postgres not be in the Program Files directory for Vista?

In any case how to I fix it. I want to at least get the data out so I can re load it. I have a backup but its not as recent as I would like.

Christine

At 10:46 PM 4/21/2009, you wrote:

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----

Hash: SHA1

Christine Penner wrote:

> The following bug has been logged online:

>

> Bug reference:      4771

> Logged by:          Christine Penner

> Email address:      christinep@telus.net

> PostgreSQL version: 8.3.7

> Operating system:   Vista

> Description:        Postgres wont start

> Details:

>

> I have had Postgres running and working on the computer for about a month. A

> week ago I started and realized that the Postgres service was not started. I

> started it and it worked fine. Today I started up and again Postgres has not

> started. I have tried again and again to start it but it won't start. I have

> restarted my computer 3 times, shut down programs running that may interfere

> but still nothing.

>

> I can't find a log file that will give me more info on why it won't start.

>

what is the Error you are getting ?

go to bin folder of postgres and try to start using pg_ctl

like :- pg_ctl -D  c:/postgres/8.3/...path upto data folder  START

                                             --

                                       regards,tushar

                                       http://webeatoracle.com

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GHUM Harald Massa
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Harald Armin Massa
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