Jason -
> 3. Cygwin PostgreSQL can fail to start or not function properly if
> certain files and directories have incorrect permissions. The
> following usually solves these kinds of problems:
>
> $ chmod a+rwx /tmp
> $ chmod a+rx /usr/bin /usr/bin/*
> $ chmod a+rw /var/log # could adversely affect other daemons
>
> In particular, note the third chmod above.
>
I tried all three, without any success.
There was another problem with postgresql configuration that I hadn't
mentioned. initdb failed when run as the user "postgres", but completed
successfully under my usual login.
These permission changes now allow initdb to run from the "postgres"
account. postmaster still successfully installs as a service, but fails to
run, whether installed to run under my usual login or "postgres" (after
initdb has been run under the appropriate account).
David