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.