[WinXP] Postgre won't install no matter what I try

[vesper]

I have windows XP home edition. Postgre SQL comes up with an error message "failed to run initialdb: 1" which is supposedly common with Vista.

Here is the log of the error itself:

The files belonging to this database system will be owned by user "SYSTEM".
This user must also own the server process.

The database cluster will be initialized with locale English_United States.1252.
The default text search configuration will be set to "english".

creating directory C:/Program Files/PostgreSQL/8.3/data ... ok
creating subdirectories ... ok
selecting default max_connections ... 10
selecting default shared_buffers/max_fsm_pages ... 400kB/20000
creating configuration files ... ok
creating template1 database in C:/Program Files/PostgreSQL/8.3/data/base/1 ... child process exited with exit code 1
initdb: removing data directory "C:/Program Files/PostgreSQL/8.3/data"

==============

I've tried the following so far:
-Fresh re-install of PT3 w/ PostgreSQL 8.3
-Uninstall, reboot, install PT3 w/o PostgreSQL and manual install of Postgre SQL 8.3
-PT3 with manual install of PostgreSQL 8.2
-PT3 with manual install of PostgreSQL

no antivirus running (usually NOD32), secondary logon enabled and automatic, I'm pretty sure I'm on an account with administrative privileges. What else can I do? Thanks in advance to people who give it a shot.

[keggler]

first check indeed if you have admin privileges; then there's not some funny permission set on c:\program files (you may have to drop into safe mode to do this)...


susan

[vesper]

OK I'm positive now I'm on an acct with admin privileges. I tried installing it on safe mode, but this message comes up "the systems administrator has set policies that prevent this installation". Apparently safe mode doesn't let windows installer start up so I tried a utility called safemsi.exe which supposedly lets the installer run in safe mode, but the same error message pops up. I've even tried some registry hacks that I found online for this same problem, but to no avail.

I guess it's a problem with administrator permissions, but I don't know how to set them and why I even have to change the permissions when I AM logged as the administrator. Any further help would be much appreciated.

[keggler]

i wanted you to drop into safe mode purely to check the permissions on the folder (you have to do this with XP Home), not to try an install in safe mode...

can you check this and post back please...


susan

[vesper]

I followed this guide in safe mode to set my "program files" folder to allow permissions for everyone:
http://www.astahost.com/info.php/add-pe ... 13645.html
...and I still have the same problem.

I've downloaded procmon and I ran it (unfiltered) right before I get the "initdb:1" error message. I've saved a log of it but as I look over it I'm realizing that I'm completely clueless about interpreting it.

Thank you so much for your patience, I really hope I can get this working.

[keggler]

don't worry; it's just a permissions problem; but it can be a real sod tracking down the cause sometimes... PM me and i'll give you an email to send the procmon log to.


susan

[JKS1414]

I think I may be having a little of this same problem....Can anyone help? I recently had my computer crash on me and had to re-install everything like new. I downloaded PT3 again and attempted to install it, the actual install was fine, started PT3 and it said Postgre must install...click yes, it went through set up and then I got this message:
Service PostgreSQL Database 8.3' (pgsql-8.3) failed to start verify that you have sufficient privileges to start system services

Before the crash I had no trouble getting it to install the first time on the very same computer. I am listed as the administrator. I also have this version of PT3 installed on a laptop and I know you get 2 installs when you purchase PT3 and i thought maybe because I installed it on the desktop before the crash and then my laptop that the program may be looking at this as a third attempted install.

Any ideas on what I can try? I read this entire post and looked at things in safe mode and i am the computer administrator if this helps eliminate a few steps.

Thanks for any help!!

[keggler]

which operating system? if it's vista, turn off uac...

if it's xp or you've already done that; you've both probably got a permissions problem that another piece of software has set on a file folder or a registry key that is stopping the postgres service get going.

Get procmon (from sysinternals), restart the postgres service, when it gets to the error, don't dismiss the dialog box, launch procmon, make a note of the postgres process ID (PID) from windows task manager, filter the procmon to this PID, scroll down to the bottom and look for any folders/registry keys this PID is trying to access.

The path and result columns in procmon should give you the clue as to the offending item...

If it turns out to be the path of a completely different app, this is the culprit that's holding the lock that's preventing postgres from starting - that app needs to be disabled, uninstalled or updated so it does not conflict with the postgres service.

btw, it's nothing to do with the number of installs you have done...


susan

[JKS1414]

Thanks!!! That helped..it appeared to be something that needed updating.....once a windows update downloaded and installed this evening I was able to try again and it installed this time!

[vesper]

Hey keggler, I was wondering if you received the procmon log I sent you a few days back?