PT3 won't start, apparent problem with PostgreSQL

[longfields]

I submitted a support ticket on 1 December for this, so far no reply. My text reads as follows:

Hello,

Version is 3.12.1

I'm getting the error message 'Error connecting to default database' etc. when trying to start PT3. I've trawled through the various threads on this in the forum, and I've tried the following:

- Ensured that all relevant files are excluded from AVG virus checker and allowed by Windows Firewall (no change)
- Checked if the PostgreSQL service is running (it isn't)
- Trying to start the service (it won't - message states that the service started and then stopped)
- Accessing the database through pgAdmin (I could, but then:)
- Reinstalled PostgreSQL 8.4 (done successfully, but made no difference to the problem, and now when I try to access the database through pdAdmin, I get the message: "could not connect to server: Connection refused (0x0000274D/10061) Is the server running on host "127.0.0.1" and accepting TCP/IP connections on port 5432?"
- Changed the pg_hba.conf file so that the 'method' for all connections reads 'trust' (no change)
- Changed the postgrsql.conf file so that listen_addresses = * (no change)
- Changed the port number from 5432 to something else (no change) and back again (no change)

I seem to have exhausted all of the suggestions on the forum, and I really don't know what else to do. Please find attached the PT3 log file generated when I tried to run PT3 with logging enabled, and the pgadmin log.

I'd be grateful for your help.

Thanks,

Paul
Attachment pgadmin.log (4KB)
Attachment PokerTracker.log (34KB)

[kraada]

Your errors are implying that PostgreSQL is not starting.

Click Start type Event Viewer and click on it when it appears. Go into the Application area in the top left and in the top center pane look for errors relating to PostgreSQL. You should find at least a couple - click on them and paste the error text here.

[longfields]

Thanks, I should perhaps mention that the PC is running XP. However, looking at the Event Viewer via Control Panel, the main error message appears to be:

2012-12-07 15:37:47 GMTFATAL: could not create lock file "postmaster.pid": Permission denied

followed by:

Timed out waiting for server startup

Any help much appreciated.

[kraada]

XP Home or XP Professional? The way to fix the permissions issue varies depending on which one you have installed.

[longfields]

It's XP Home.

Thanks for your help.

[kraada]

Well let's try the easy way first then - see if there's a postmaster.pid file in the C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\8.3\data\ folder - if there is, delete it and try again. If not let me know and I'll give you the longer workaround.

[longfields]

No, the postmaster.pid file does not exist, so I'd be grateful for the workaround.

Thanks again!

[kraada]

Follow these steps to enable the Security tab.

Once it's enabled, right click on the C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\8.3\data\ folder and go to that Security tab. Click Add, then Advanced, then Find Now and that should give you a list of users in the bottom pane. Locate the postgres user and click on it then click OK twice so you get back to the Security tab with the postgres user listed. Give the postgres user full permissions over the folder, then restart the PostgreSQL service and it should start.

[longfields]

First I want to say, thanks so much for your help. With your guidance and pointers, the problem is fixed. I'm very grateful.

For those who may have the same problem, can I just say that for me, gaining access to the Security tab in XP Home needed a different workaround. I had to download the MS file SCESP4I.EXE (google it for mirror sites), extract the files, right-click on the setup.inf file and then click 'Install'. After a reboot, I could then see the Security tab. After that, I followed your instructions about the postgres user and PT3 worked immediately.

Once again, thanks for your time and trouble over this.

[kraada]

No problem - I'm glad to hear you have everything working properly now