Cannot start PG as a Windows Service on Server 2008 and Windows 8

[Brian Janes <btjanes@xxxxxxxx>]

Hi all,

I can successfully run PG as a service in Windows XP with no problems, but not in Windows Server 2008 or Windows 8, even though the same procedure is being used.  This is what I get with Windows XP, which is expected:

C:\>pg_ctl register -N postgres -U btjanes -P XXX -D c:\bin\rtda\pgdata -S auto

C:\>sc query postgres

SERVICE_NAME: postgres

        TYPE               : 10  WIN32_OWN_PROCESS

        STATE              : 1  STOPPED

                                (NOT_STOPPABLE,NOT_PAUSABLE,IGNORES_SHUTDOWN)

        WIN32_EXIT_CODE    : 1077       (0x435)

        SERVICE_EXIT_CODE  : 0  (0x0)

        CHECKPOINT         : 0x0

        WAIT_HINT          : 0x0

C:\>sc start postgres

SERVICE_NAME: postgres

        TYPE               : 10  WIN32_OWN_PROCESS

        STATE              : 2  START_PENDING

                                (NOT_STOPPABLE,NOT_PAUSABLE,IGNORES_SHUTDOWN)

        WIN32_EXIT_CODE    : 0  (0x0)

        SERVICE_EXIT_CODE  : 0  (0x0)

        CHECKPOINT         : 0x0

        WAIT_HINT          : 0x7d0

        PID                : 1064

        FLAGS              :

C:\>sc query postgres

SERVICE_NAME: postgres

        TYPE               : 10  WIN32_OWN_PROCESS

        STATE              : 4  RUNNING

                                (STOPPABLE,PAUSABLE,ACCEPTS_SHUTDOWN)

        WIN32_EXIT_CODE    : 0  (0x0)

        SERVICE_EXIT_CODE  : 0  (0x0)

        CHECKPOINT         : 0x0

        WAIT_HINT          : 0x0

And this is what I get on both Windows Server 2008 and Windows 8:

C:\>pg_ctl register -N postgres -U btjanes -P XXX -D c:\bin\rtda\pgdata -S auto

C:\>sc query postgres

SERVICE_NAME: postgres

        TYPE               : 10  WIN32_OWN_PROCESS

        STATE              : 1  STOPPED

        WIN32_EXIT_CODE    : 1077  (0x435)

        SERVICE_EXIT_CODE  : 0  (0x0)

        CHECKPOINT         : 0x0

        WAIT_HINT          : 0x0

C:\>sc start postgres

[SC] StartService FAILED 1053:

The service did not respond to the start or control request in a timely fashion.

In both cases, the same local user account (btjanes) is used.  This user is the same one that created the pgdata directory, so there isn't a permissions issue on the directory (I did verify it anyway to be sure).  In both cases, PG starts up fine in the command prompt manually using pg_ctl.  This issue is killing me and any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Brian Janes
Technical Product Manager
Runtime Design Automation
Phone: (408) 320-RTDA (7832)
E-mail: brian.janes@xxxxxxxx
Web: www.rtda.com