Thread: basic download and setup questions
Hello All; The webpage listing the various mailing lists said that no question was too simple, so here goes: I am trying to evaluate PostGreSQL to see if it can do what I want. My first problem is that I can't figure out what files to download. I'm running Windows XP and want to create a stand alone "program" for inventory and job tracking. I have little DB experience, but I have significant experience with several programing languages. I'm not asking for help in designing the "program", just some pointers in finding the right files and documentation. As well, does PostGreSQL work on just a single computer? I apoligize if this is all explained in a FAQ somewhere. I did look. Thanks Ray
Ray, On Dec 8, 2004, at 11:12 PM, Raymond Still wrote: > The webpage listing the various mailing lists said that > no question was too simple, so here goes: > I am trying to evaluate PostGreSQL to see if it can do > what I want. My first problem is that I can't figure > out what files to download. I'm running Windows XP and > want to create a stand alone "program" for inventory > and job tracking. > I have little DB experience, but I have significant > experience with several programing languages. I'm not > asking for help in designing the "program", just some > pointers in finding the right files and documentation. > As well, does PostGreSQL work on just a single > computer? > I apoligize if this is all explained in a FAQ > somewhere. I did look. > Your best bet as a new Windows user is to download the distribution from here which includes a complete Windows installer: http://pgfoundry.org/frs/?group_id=1000007 (or more specifically, this is the latest release: http://pgfoundry.org/frs/download.php/85/postgresql-8.0.0-rc1.zip). It should prompt you for everything you need to get the database up and running. The documentation and pgAdmin, a graphical PostgreSQL client is included. Best, John DeSoi, Ph.D. http://pgedit.com/ Power Tools for PostgreSQL
Hello All; Thank you for the quick and helpful response. Now I have a new question. I downloaded these files (win XP) and managed to set them up, sort of. The first time I got to the stage where you have to enter a password and user name, and I didn't read close enough. I tried to leave the password blank because I didn't want a password and the installer came up with something about 20 characters long and about half punctuation, so I tried to back up. Any way, now I need to remove this user name or at least change the password and I don't even know what program this user is stored in. Any information would be greatly appreciated including the correct mailing list, if this is the wrong one. Thank you Ray ----- Original Message ----- From: "John DeSoi" <desoi@pgedit.com> To: "Raymond Still" <rstill@canada.com> Cc: <pgsql-novice@postgresql.org> Sent: Monday, December 13, 2004 6:12 AM Subject: Re: [NOVICE] basic download and setup questions > Ray, > > On Dec 8, 2004, at 11:12 PM, Raymond Still wrote: > >> The webpage listing the various mailing lists said that >> no question was too simple, so here goes: >> I am trying to evaluate PostGreSQL to see if it can do >> what I want. My first problem is that I can't figure >> out what files to download. I'm running Windows XP and >> want to create a stand alone "program" for inventory >> and job tracking. >> I have little DB experience, but I have significant >> experience with several programing languages. I'm not >> asking for help in designing the "program", just some >> pointers in finding the right files and documentation. >> As well, does PostGreSQL work on just a single >> computer? >> I apoligize if this is all explained in a FAQ >> somewhere. I did look. >> > > Your best bet as a new Windows user is to download the distribution from > here which includes a complete Windows installer: > > http://pgfoundry.org/frs/?group_id=1000007 > > (or more specifically, this is the latest release: > http://pgfoundry.org/frs/download.php/85/postgresql-8.0.0-rc1.zip). > > It should prompt you for everything you need to get the database up and > running. The documentation and pgAdmin, a graphical PostgreSQL client is > included. > > > Best, > > John DeSoi, Ph.D. > http://pgedit.com/ > Power Tools for PostgreSQL > > > > ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- > TIP 7: don't forget to increase your free space map settings --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.813 / Virus Database: 553 - Release Date: 12/13/2004
> Ray, > > On Dec 14, 2004, at 4:32 PM, Afton & Ray Still wrote: > >> Now I have a new question. I downloaded these files (win XP) and managed >> to set them up, sort of. The first time I got to the stage where you have >> to enter a password and user name, and I didn't read close enough. I >> tried to leave the password blank because I didn't want a password and >> the installer came up with something about 20 characters long and about >> half punctuation, so I tried to back up. Any way, now I need to remove >> this user name or at least change the password and I don't even know what >> program this user is stored in. >> > > I did not see anyone respond, so I'll take a shot -- but I'm not a Windows > expert. I think the user pg creates is a non-privileged account for > running the server. I don't see it in the normal users lists, so Windows > must have different classes of users. So I supposed there is some sort of > command line way to change the password, but I don't know what it is. > > If you are just starting and have not really done anything with the > database, it might be easier to just uninstall and then install it again. > Is it up and running OK? You might not even need to worry about the > account password. I can't recall ever using it -- the service takes care > of starting up. If you are talking about the database super user password, > then that is a different matter. > > Best, > > John DeSoi, Ph.D. > http://pgedit.com/ > Power Tools for PostgreSQL It might be the supper user you're talking about. I aborted during install and haven't been able to install properly. I can't install unless I uncheck "install as a service" and then pgadmin won't connect. I've uninstalled and reinstalled a couple of times. with no change. Is there a windows mailing list that would be more appropriate for these questions? I'd like to ditch windows, but there are a few reasons I can't, one of the big ones being that this is a shared computer with too small a hard drive for a dual boot system. Thank you Ray > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.813 / Virus Database: 553 - Release Date: 12/13/2004
----- Original Message ----- From: "Afton & Ray Still" <rastill@shaw.ca> To: <pgsql-novice@postgresql.org> Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2004 11:10 AM Subject: Re: [NOVICE] basic download and setup questions If you're trying to access the user account information for the "logon as service" component (not the database superuser), check under Start - Settings - Control Panel - User Accounts. There should be a user postgres with the password that was assigned by the installer. You can delete this user account and start from scratch, or change the password to one more convenient for yourself. Use this new password when you re-install PostgreSQL. If you uninstall PostgreSQL, you may have to delete all references to pgAdmin III in the registry before re-installing PostgreSQL to get a complete clean reinstallation. I noticed that the uninstaller left some pgAdmin relics behind that interfered with starting pgAdmin III cleanly after reinstallation. HTH. George > > It might be the supper user you're talking about. I aborted during install > and haven't been able to install properly. I can't install unless I > uncheck "install as a service" and then pgadmin won't connect. I've > uninstalled and reinstalled a couple of times. with no change. > > Is there a windows mailing list that would be more appropriate for these > questions? I'd like to ditch windows, but there are a few reasons I can't, > one of the big ones being that this is a shared computer with too small a > hard drive for a dual boot system. > Thank you > Ray >> > > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.813 / Virus Database: 553 - Release Date: 12/13/2004 > > ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- > TIP 3: if posting/reading through Usenet, please send an appropriate > subscribe-nomail command to majordomo@postgresql.org so that your > message can get through to the mailing list cleanly >
On Dec 16, 2004, at 2:17 PM, George Weaver wrote: > If you're trying to access the user account information for the "logon > as service" component (not the database superuser), check under Start > - Settings - Control Panel - User Accounts. There should be a user > postgres with the password that was assigned by the installer. You > can delete this user account and start from scratch, or change the > password to one more convenient for yourself. Use this new password > when you re-install PostgreSQL. My install is working ok, but I don't have a postgres user in the user accounts control panel (I'm the admin account and the only other account listed is "Guest"). So I think it is some other class of user account that does not show up in the control panel. Or perhaps PostgreSQL does not install it properly. But the task manager shows that postmaster.exe is running with the postgres account. Best, John DeSoi, Ph.D. http://pgedit.com/ Power Tools for PostgreSQL
On Dec 16, 2004, at 12:10 PM, Afton & Ray Still wrote: > It might be the supper user you're talking about. I aborted during > install and haven't been able to install properly. I can't install > unless I uncheck "install as a service" and then pgadmin won't > connect. I've uninstalled and reinstalled a couple of times. with no > change. The super user I'm referring to is just the database super user where the password is in the database. If you did not know that password, you should be able to get a connection but then an invalid password response. If you can't even install, then I'm would guess the problem is with the postgres user account. This account does not have to be postgres. Did you try a different name when you reinstalled? Also, before you install double check the task manager (ctrl-ald-delete, processes tab) to make sure you have no postgres.exe or postmaster.exe processes. You might also take a look at the FAQ and see if you find anything helpful. http://pginstaller.projects.postgresql.org/FAQ_windows.html Best, John DeSoi, Ph.D. http://pgedit.com/ Power Tools for PostgreSQL
This User Account can be viewed by the "computer management" program in windows XP ( Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Computer Management ) In this program acess the topic : System Tools -> Local Users and Groups -> Users Right click the postgres user and you can set a new password, delete or change the properties for this account. Hope this helps. John DeSoi wrote: > > On Dec 16, 2004, at 2:17 PM, George Weaver wrote: > >> If you're trying to access the user account information for the >> "logon as service" component (not the database superuser), check >> under Start - Settings - Control Panel - User Accounts. There should >> be a user postgres with the password that was assigned by the >> installer. You can delete this user account and start from scratch, >> or change the password to one more convenient for yourself. Use this >> new password when you re-install PostgreSQL. > > > My install is working ok, but I don't have a postgres user in the user > accounts control panel (I'm the admin account and the only other > account listed is "Guest"). So I think it is some other class of user > account that does not show up in the control panel. Or perhaps > PostgreSQL does not install it properly. But the task manager shows > that postmaster.exe is running with the postgres account. > > Best, > > John DeSoi, Ph.D. > http://pgedit.com/ > Power Tools for PostgreSQL > > > ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- > TIP 2: you can get off all lists at once with the unregister command > (send "unregister YourEmailAddressHere" to majordomo@postgresql.org) > >
Thanks Luiz I think this is getting closer, unfortunately 45 minutes + later, I have learned that this applies to XP Professional version, not home version. (Don't you love M. S.) Ray > This User Account can be viewed by the "computer management" program in > windows XP > ( Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Computer Management ) > In this program acess the topic : > System Tools -> Local Users and Groups -> Users > Right click the postgres user and you can set a new password, delete or > change the properties for this account. > > Hope this helps. <snip> (getting long) --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.813 / Virus Database: 553 - Release Date: 12/13/2004
Thank you Luiz, John, and George, Your help is much appreciated. I had tried to reinstall with a new user name, and I received the same error. By accident I relized that I was trying a user name that was probably my main account. I just abandoned that user name and made up a new one and everything seems to work fine. now we'll see what this thing can do, or at least what I can make it do. Again, thanks for all your help. Ray ----- Original Message ----- From: "Afton & Ray Still" <rastill@shaw.ca> To: <pgsql-novice@postgresql.org> Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2004 4:38 PM Subject: Re: [NOVICE] basic download and setup questions > Thanks Luiz > I think this is getting closer, unfortunately 45 minutes + later, I have > learned that this applies to XP Professional version, not home version. > (Don't you love M. S.) > Ray > > >> This User Account can be viewed by the "computer management" program in >> windows XP >> ( Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Computer Management ) >> In this program acess the topic : >> System Tools -> Local Users and Groups -> Users >> Right click the postgres user and you can set a new password, delete or >> change the properties for this account. >> >> Hope this helps. > > <snip> (getting long) > > > --- > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). > Version: 6.0.813 / Virus Database: 553 - Release Date: 12/13/2004 > > ---------------------------(end of broadcast)--------------------------- > TIP 5: Have you checked our extensive FAQ? > > http://www.postgresql.org/docs/faqs/FAQ.html --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.813 / Virus Database: 553 - Release Date: 12/13/2004
Hi Luiz, On Dec 16, 2004, at 4:34 PM, Luiz K. Matsumura wrote: > This User Account can be viewed by the "computer management" program > in windows XP > ( Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Computer Management ) > In this program acess the topic : > System Tools -> Local Users and Groups -> Users > Right click the postgres user and you can set a new password, delete > or change the properties for this account. As Ray indicated, this is probably only XP Server/Professional. On XP Home, there is no "Local Users and Groups" item under system tools. But I'm glad you mentioned this because I was certainly wondering where the Services control panel was. Things were so much easier to find on NT :). Best, John DeSoi, Ph.D. http://pgedit.com/ Power Tools for PostgreSQL