PostgreSQL wont start!

[forumer9]

When i start PT3 i get message:

Unable to login to database.
Reason: could not connect to server: Connection refused (0x0000274D/10061) -Is the server running on host "localhost" and accepting TCP/IP connections on port 5432?

I have tried following:
1. Starting Postgresql manually. All i got was command prompt saying : the postgresql database server 8.3 service is starting
doing that for minute or two and then dissapears.
in task manager there vas entry called pgctl.exe, that was there while prompt was on.

2. Disabled all antivirus software and firewalls, and again manual start

Nothing helped...

Also, i had some malware problems last few days and i had to repair my windows xp installation.
I did that with xp installation disc. But it only replaced xp system files. And postgresql files were not damaged in any way.
Registry was not changed, any personal setting was not changed. Everything is same and every other application is working perfectly. So, in my opinion, that should not be a problem... Or should it??

Please help...

[WhiteRider]

Try running a search on your computer for postmaster.pid and then deleting that file, then restarting the service and see if that helps.
Note that you may need to turn on 'View hidden files and folders', and the file seems to be in the folder './Program Files/postgresql/[version]/data'.
See also: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=6332#p38285

If that doesn't work..
Please select the last few files in C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\8.3\data\pg_log (they're dated so just pick the recent ones), right-click and choose 'Send To Compressed/zipped Folder', then attach the zip file to a ticket on the Support system, and link to this thread in the reference field of the ticket so that we can investigate.

[forumer9]

i could not find that file. Its not there, anywhere.

and i checked that logs folder and my latest log is dating 2/23/2009
so nothing logged from yesterday, when problem occured

i will send files, but i doubt it will help...

anything else that can help?

[WhiteRider]

If you try to start postgres it should be writing to those logs.
If it isn't then I suspect postgres isn't able to even try to start, which would mean that something is really preventing it.
I'll see if I can get our postgres expert to take a look at this thread.

[WhiteRider]

You have a PM.

[castle77]

i am also having this problem. it will not start. black c prompt box opens, and a bunch of dots, then it disaperars, but nothing appears in the task manager.

[WhiteRider]

What firewall and antivirus software are you using?
Some of them prevent postgres from running. Try disabling it and see if that allows the service to start.

[Russelldust]

Same problem here.

The problem began when I tried moving PostgreSQL's data folder to a different hard drive. I did so by following these instructions.

Now I can't start the database service. I just get the dots ...... for a minute or two, then it gives up.

Nothing is being logged to pg_log.
I've tried disabling my firewall.
I tried deleting postmaster.pid too.

Any other ideas?
How can I diagnose why the service won't start up?

[WhiteRider]

Try looking at the event viewer (accessible from Control Panel or click start and type "event") and see if you have any errors related to PostgreSQL? If you do, post them here.

[Russelldust]

My bad. It was a file permissions issue - fixed by re-applying the access permissions, so that literally all users can access the new Program Files folder and everything beneath.

It wasn't enough just for Administrators and System to have 'Full Control' (even though all users on the machine are administrators). I guess PostgreSQL has lesser permissions than the user who installed it? [the server is running WinXP Pro 64-bit, btw]

Anyhow, now the service works fine.