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
