BUG #1239: Stale postmaster.pid prevents server start

The following bug has been logged online:

Bug reference: 1239
Logged by: Martin Pollard

Email address: circlemaster@blueyonder.co.uk

PostgreSQL version: 8.0 Beta

Operating system: Win32

Description: Stale postmaster.pid prevents server start

Details:

A stale or invalid postmaster.pid file in the postgres data directory will
prevent postgresql from starting and not return an error to the service
controller.

Example shown below.

----------------------------------------------------

C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\8.0-beta1\data>net start "postgresql database
server
8.0-beta1"
The PostgreSQL Database Server 8.0-beta1 service is starting.
The PostgreSQL Database Server 8.0-beta1 service was started successfully.

C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\8.0-beta1\data>net stop "postgresql database
server
8.0-beta1"
The PostgreSQL Database Server 8.0-beta1 service is stopping.
The PostgreSQL Database Server 8.0-beta1 service was stopped successfully.

C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\8.0-beta1\data>type CON > postmaster.pid
123455 fish 4433

C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\8.0-beta1\data>net start "postgresql database
server
8.0-beta1"
The PostgreSQL Database Server 8.0-beta1 service is starting.
The PostgreSQL Database Server 8.0-beta1 service could not be started.

The service did not report an error.

More help is available by typing NET HELPMSG 3534.

C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\8.0-beta1\data>del postmaster.pid

C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\8.0-beta1\data>net start "postgresql database
server
8.0-beta1"
The PostgreSQL Database Server 8.0-beta1 service is starting.
The PostgreSQL Database Server 8.0-beta1 service was started successfully.