Postgresql Upgrade Issue

[TheGrump42]

I attempted to follow the instructions to upgrade from the last supported version of Postgresql (12.19 I think) to version 16.3. Uninstall seemed to go fine. However, I have not been able to get any version correctly installed. I am getting an error message saying the "database cluster initialization failed." I have attempted disabling virus/malware programs, running the install in as an admin, installing different versions, and enabling all permissions for the data folder. The program does seem to install, but I cannot find any services running in windows and PT4 cannot log in to the server. I did not have any problems with version 12.9 before this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am probably overlooking something simple.

[Flag_Hippo]

I am getting an error message saying the "database cluster initialization failed." I have attempted disabling virus/malware programs

That error is typically caused by security software interfering and sometimes simply disabling them is not enough to resolve it. Try temporarily uninstalling them, restart your computer and then try the PostgreSQL install again. If that install also fails then please attach this file to a Support Ticket where a technician can follow up with you:

C:\Users\{Windows Login}\AppData\Local\Temp\install-postgresql.log

[TheGrump42]

Thank you, Hippo. After attempting a few more solutions. I have started a support ticket. I will post my results here.

[TheGrump42]

Here is the answer to my support ticket. I am happy to say it resolved the issue. I hope this helps anyone with like problems in the future.

Hi -

Thanks, that much consistent trouble across multiple versions indicates an issue with your 'computer name' and/or Windows username. I can see from the log it's probably the latter.

To get around it try installing PostgreSQL this way:

1. Reboot your computer.

2. Check that your Windows "Secondary Login" service is running. You can check/manually start it by clicking "Start -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services".

Find "Secondary Logon" in the list, double-click it and make sure that it's set to "Automatic" startup type. Also, press "Start" to manually start the service if needed.

3. Click "Start -> Control Panel -> System and Security" then "System -> See the name of this computer".

Go down to "Computer name, domain..." and see that your "Computer Name: " doesn't include any spaces.

If it does have space(s) in the name, note what the current name is in case you need to restore it later.

Then click "Change settings", "Computer Name" tab then "Change...".

In the "Computer name:" box keep a similar computer name but remove space(s) with perhaps the underline character ("_").

Click "OK" to save.

4. In this step you'll be creating then logging in as a different Windows user to do the PostgreSQL install and it's very important.

Open "Control Panel" again and click "User Accounts -> Add or remove user accounts".

Click "Create a new account", give it a name such as "pgsql_tmp" (no quotes) and be sure to click the "Administrator" option.

For Windows 10/11 users create a 'local' user account, this does not require a new Microsoft account or email address. So if you start seeing messages about an email address or creating a Microsoft account you want to cancel out of that and look for the 'local user' option instead.

5. Log out of your regular Windows account and log back in with the new "pgsql_tmp" (or whatever you named it).

6. Click and download this: http://get.enterprisedb.com/postgresql/ ... ws-x64.exe

A) Click "Control Panel -> Programs and Features" and if there's a "PostgreSQL" there uninstall it.

B) Click "Start -> All Programs -> Accessories", right-mouse-button on "Command Prompt", select "Run as administrator" and copy/paste this in the window (then press the keyboard 'Enter' key):

net user postgres /delete

That could fail but should be fine.

C) With "Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Windows Explorer" check these locations for a "PostgreSQL" folder and rename any you find to "PostgreSQL_ORIG":

C:\Program Files

C:\Program Files (x86)

7. Now we should be ready to install the PostgreSQL you downloaded so right-mouse-button on the downloaded file and select "Run as administrator". I would take all the defaults except for these:

A) When it suggests the folder to install in remove the "Program Files" part such that you end up with this:

C:\PostgreSQL\16

B) For the two password boxes you can use "dbpass" (no quotes) which is what PokerTracker4 would've chosen.

When the installer says it's finished, take the check mark out of the "Stack Builder" option and click the "Finish" button.

8. Hopefully you did not have the installer trouble this time so log out of this temporary account you've made and log in to your regular Windows account.

Start PokerTracker4 and use these settings in the "Configure PostgreSQL" window:

server localhost
port 5432
user postgres
password (whatever you chose in step #7B)

The last thing is using everything in step #4 except rebooting, go in to remove this temporary user and that should do it. It's possible you'll get an "unable to connect..." message from PokerTracker4, try clicking through messages of that sort until you reach the window with the "New" button and click it - if PokerTracker4 can create a new database that means the PostgreSQL install was successful.

Mike
Mike/PokerTracker Support