The following bug has been logged online:
Bug reference: 2842
Logged by: Kevin Macdonald
Email address: kevin.macdonald@pentura.ca
PostgreSQL version: 8.2
Operating system: Windows XP
Description: Installation procedure
Details:
Hello,
I downloaded postgresql-8.2.0-1.zip and extracted the three files. As per
the README.TXT file, I consulted the web page
http://pginstaller.projects.postgresql.org for instructions on how to get
started -- there was nothing! (Please review this web page if you don't
believe me -- it doesn't tell you how to begin an installation.)
At this point, you have possibly lost 50% of your audience who by now have
buggered back to mysql.
So, I took a guess and clicked on the largest .MSI file,
postgresql-8.2-int.msi and received this error
"Please use the main MSI file to install PostgreSQL".
What is the "main MSI file"?
Could you have said "Please use postgresql-8.2.msi" instead ?
I then clicked "OK" and received this message
"Installation ended prematurely because of an error".
This is meaningless.
You now lost another 30% of your audience to mysql.
Anyway in the end, as one of the remaining 20% who stuck with you, I clicked
on the other MSI file and all is well.
But the install process is needlessly vague and you have lost potential
clients.
I understand that your product is completely free of cost or other
obligations, but is the product that you release intended for end-users or,
instead, for a VAR who would then provide support to the end-users.
My background for the past 20 years is Oracle (from 7.3.4 to 10g), and I
have never seen such misleading and incomplete installation instructions as
what you have released.
I have successfully installed Postgresql on Linux without fail.
Perhaps some usability testing prior to your next release would help.
Thank you