PostgreSQL installation problem on Windows XP Home

See the following article in Microsoft's Knowledgebase which describes how
to get to the system accounts in Windows XP Home. It specifically addresses
changing the Windows administrator password, but as long as you follow the
directions you should see the postgres account along with administrator and
other system accounts.

Cannot Change the Password for the Administrator Account in User Accounts in
Control Panel
Article ID : 298252
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298252
<http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298252&gt;

--Bearden Barnes

-----Original Message-----
From: Hagop H. [mailto:HagopH@hotpop.com]
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2005 4:08 PM
To: PGSQL-novice@postgresql.org; PGSQL-cygwin@postgresql.org;
PGSQL-admin@postgresql.org; PGSQL-general@postgresql.org
Subject: [ADMIN] PostgreSQL installation problem on Windows XP Home

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

----- Original Message -----
From: Hagop H.
To: PGSQL-novice@postgresql.org ; PGSQL-cygwin@postgresql.org ; PGSQL-admin@postgresql.org ; PGSQL-general@postgresql.org
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2005 2:07 PM
Subject: [NOVICE] PostgreSQL installation problem on Windows XP Home

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

Been there, Done That. Reinstall with a new account Is all I could figure out.

Ray

Please don't post to the cygwin list issues not related to cygwin.
You installed the native win32 version.

Installation problems should go to the general list only.
See http://www.postgresql.org/community/lists/

Hagop H. schrieb:

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

--
Reini Urban
http://xarch.tu-graz.ac.at/home/rurban
http://phpwiki.org

Sorry.

I didn't know which list best served general installation questions for the
Windows version. My question has been answered. Thanks for your attention.

Regards,

Hagop

-----Original Message-----
From: Reini Urban [mailto:rurban@x-ray.at]
Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2005 7:27 AM
To: Hagop H.
Cc: PGSQL-cygwin@postgresql.org
Subject: Re: [CYGWIN] PostgreSQL installation problem on Windows XP Home

Please don't post to the cygwin list issues not related to cygwin.
You installed the native win32 version.

Installation problems should go to the general list only.
See http://www.postgresql.org/community/lists/

Hagop H. schrieb:

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

--
Reini Urban
http://xarch.tu-graz.ac.at/home/rurban
http://phpwiki.org

A couple of comments:

pgadmin asked you for the postgres database account. NOT for the service
account. The postgres database account is never autogenerated, it is
always entered during the installation (on the initdb page).

To change a users password in any windows version, inculding XP Home,
run:
net user accountname newpassword

If it's a domain account, just add "/DOMAIN" at the end.

If you want to delete it, as others has pointed out already, just run
"net user accountname /delete".

I beleive there are also third-party tools available to do this in a
GUI, but I don't know of any specific tool I can point you at.

//Magnus

-----Original Message-----
From: pgsql-admin-owner@postgresql.org
[mailto:pgsql-admin-owner@postgresql.org] On Behalf Of Hagop H.
Sent: den 4 mars 2005 22:08
To: PGSQL-novice@postgresql.org; PGSQL-cygwin@postgresql.org;
PGSQL-admin@postgresql.org; PGSQL-general@postgresql.org
Subject: [ADMIN] PostgreSQL installation problem on Windows XP
Home

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

Hello,
I was very interested to see this as I have had simmiler problems. However this again seems to be a xp pro only thing.
Thanks
Ray
(Link provides 7 steps, step 3 doesn't work with home version)
(gotta love ms.) (yeah, right.)
----- Original Message -----
From: Bearden Barnes
To: 'Hagop H.'
Cc: PGSQL-novice@postgresql.org ; PGSQL-cygwin@postgresql.org ; PGSQL-admin@postgresql.org ; PGSQL-general@postgresql.org
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2005 3:10 PM
Subject: Re: [NOVICE] [ADMIN] PostgreSQL installation problem on Windows XP Home

See the following article in Microsoft's Knowledgebase which describes how to get to the system accounts in Windows XP Home. It specifically addresses changing the Windows administrator password, but as long as you follow the directions you should see the postgres account along with administrator and other system accounts.

Cannot Change the Password for the Administrator Account in User Accounts in Control Panel
Article ID : 298252

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298252

--Bearden Barnes

-----Original Message-----
From: Hagop H. [mailto:HagopH@hotpop.com]
Sent: Friday, March 04, 2005 4:08 PM
To: PGSQL-novice@postgresql.org; PGSQL-cygwin@postgresql.org; PGSQL-admin@postgresql.org; PGSQL-general@postgresql.org
Subject: [ADMIN] PostgreSQL installation problem on Windows XP Home

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

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