I solved this, but it's still weird. I uninstalled again, this time deleting
the
windows user account that PostgreSQL created. So when I reinstalled everything
was ok.
Now I've realised that PostgreSQL is being very stupid about not allowing
logins
via psql from a windows administrator account. So I'm just running it as the
guest user. But I still don't understand why psql works when run in a windows
administrator account, but stops working as such when I add another user. This
has me really baffled. Can someone please enlighten me (and the rest of us)?
- Steve
Quoting Steve Taylor <tayl0270@flinders.edu.au>:
> Hi.
>
> I installed PostgreSQL 8.1.2 on Windows XP Pro. I started psql (via the
> start
> menu) and created a user. Then I exited psql using \q. Then I tried to start
> it
> again and got:
> psql: FATAL: password authentication failed for user "postgres"
> and the command window closed.
>
> I don't understand what is going on. Is this some kind of bug? I have
> searched
> the mailing list archives and found dozens upon dozens of people reporting
> this
> error message, but it's either for a different reason or where it's the same
> situation as mine, the message goes unreplied.
>
> The really weird thing is that I did a full uninstall (removed it in
> Add/Remove
> programs AND deleted the directory \Program Files\PostgreSQL) and now psql
> won't work AT ALL. I'm just trying to get started. I just want to create ONE
> table so I can play around with jdbc.
>
> Why the hell doesn't psql just startup and ask for a username and password?
> That
> makes so much sense that it will never happen.
>
> - Steve
>
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