PostgreSQL and pkg admin installation issue: problem running post install step, installation may not complete correctly, the database cluster initialization failed

[Lavsri007]

This is regards to PostgreSQL software installation on device.
When we are trying to run the PostgreSQL file from device at the end of installation as device is getting the warning message and stopping the installation but when we are opening the application not showing the dialog box to enter the password.
We have tried to reinstall almost three times and tried older version as well but It’s not showing a login page to see the database.
Kindly have a look into the issue and help us for resolution if you have any idea on this.

[Manika-EDB]

Hi @Lavsri007,

Can you please share the installation log with us to understand the issue?
You can find the log in system's %TEMP% directory with the name like install-postgresql.log or installbuilder_installer.log

Thanks!

[Lavsri007]

Hello @Manika-EDB ,

I have checked in user machine now and there is no logs found under this folder with the given name. Please suggest further.

[Lavsri007]

Hello @Manika-EDB ,

Can I get an update on this?

Regards,
Lav Srivastav

[Manika-EDB]

Hi @Lavsri007,

Could you please try the installation again and check the log immediately after the failure? Reviewing the log will help us better understand the cause of the issue.

Thanks!

[Lavsri007]

Hello @Manika-EDB , you are looking for the logs and we are not getting any log file named install-postgresql.log or installbuilder_installer.log under %TEMP%? Please let me know if we can connect over the call?

[Lavsri007]

Hello @Manika-EDB ,

Can you check if this helps you?

Installation Directory: C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17
Server Installation Directory: C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17
Data Directory: C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17\data
Database Port: 5432
Database Superuser: postgres
Operating System Account: NT AUTHORITY\NetworkService
Database Service: postgresql-x64-17
Command Line Tools Installation Directory: C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17
pgAdmin4 Installation Directory: C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17\pgAdmin 4
Stack Builder Installation Directory: C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17\stackbuilder
Installation Log: C:\Users\LAPSAdmin\AppData\Local\Temp\install-postgresql.log
===== Installation completed at: 2025-04-28(YYYY-MM-DD) - 12:59:38(HH:MM:SS) =====

Regards,
Lav Srivastav

[Manika-EDB]

Hi @Lavsri007,

The info you provide shows that log is getting created in Installation Log: C:\Users\LAPSAdmin\AppData\Local\Temp\install-postgresql.log

But to understand the cause of failure we really need the log.

[Lavsri007]

Hello @Manika-EDB ,

We are unable to open the LAPSAdmin folder under Users, please suggest.

Regards,
Lav Srivastav

[sandeep-edb]

you mean you are logged in using LAPSAdmin, but unable to view the files inside C:\Users\LAPSAdmin ? That's very odd. We cannot help with that and you need to check the ACLs on those directories.

[Lavsri007]

Hello @sandeep-edb ,

No, we are logged in with user's username and from there we are unable to enter inside the Lapsadmin username folder, please suggest if machine should be logged in with Lapsadmin username and then we need to try to install? As lapsadmin credentials we are using for all the installations.

As per discussed with security team internally, we have created the Inbound rule in defender advance security and allowed port number 5432 which by default port for PostgreSQL.

We again tried to install but this time we are unable to delete the entire folder of Postgresql as it says you need permissions to perform this action, screenshot attached. Now when we are trying to install Postgresql 17.4 we are getting this issue, attached screenshot. We have tried multiple ways but still no solutions on this ticket and we are getting late response, please help us to fix this issue as we are getting escalations from client end for the same.

[slimane-lakehal]

I have the same problem, and I've been trying for weeks (the only work around is using docker). I'd like to understand what's happening.
Here's the log_file for the installation:

install-postgresql.log

Trying to manual initdb, runs with a version error ("initdb: erreur : le programme « postgres » a été trouvé par « C:/Program Files/PostgreSQL/17/bin/initdb » mais n'est pas de la même version que initdb

Checking the logfile, I see some "bizarre" registry settings, where the version and other values are set to null, but I'm not a dev, And I could be mistaken.

[Manika-EDB]

Hi @slimane-lakehal, @Lavsri007

Can you both please try the installation using this test-installer and let us know if issue still persists?

https://get.enterprisedb.com/test-installers/postgresql-17.5-0.0snapshot15185362619.1243.1.a356107.1-windows-x64.exe

Thanks in advance!

[Tarasyan113]

Hello! I did the installation using a "test-installer", the same thing happens as with a regular installer.

[sandeep-edb]

Hi,
We need to understand few more things to know the cause of the problem. Could you run the following commands on the CMD and share the output:

icacls "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17"
icacls "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17\data"

Is this your logged in user: bibichettes\slimane ?

[slimane-lakehal]

@sandeep-edb here's the output:

C:\Users\Slimane>icacls "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17"
C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17 NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller:(I)(F)
NT SERVICE\TrustedInstaller:(I)(CI)(IO)(F)
AUTORITE NT\Système:(I)(F)
AUTORITE NT\Système:(I)(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
BUILTIN\Administrateurs:(I)(F)
BUILTIN\Administrateurs:(I)(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
BUILTIN\Utilisateurs:(I)(RX)
BUILTIN\Utilisateurs:(I)(OI)(CI)(IO)(GR,GE)
CREATEUR PROPRIETAIRE:(I)(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
AUTORITÉ DE PACKAGE D’APPLICATION\TOUS LES PACKAGES D’APPLICATION:(I)(RX)
AUTORITÉ DE PACKAGE D’APPLICATION\TOUS LES PACKAGES D’APPLICATION:(I)(OI)(CI)(IO)(GR,GE)
AUTORITÉ DE PACKAGE D’APPLICATION\TOUS LES PACKAGES D’APPLICATION RESTREINTS:(I)(RX)
AUTORITÉ DE PACKAGE D’APPLICATION\TOUS LES PACKAGES D’APPLICATION RESTREINTS:(I)(OI)(CI)(IO)(GR,GE)

Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files

C:\Users\Slimane>icacls "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17\data"
C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17\data BIBICHETTES\Slimane:(RX)
BUILTIN\Administrateurs:(F)
BUILTIN\Administrateurs:(OI)(CI)(F)
AUTORITE NT\Système:(OI)(CI)(F)
CREATEUR PROPRIETAIRE:(OI)(CI)(IO)(F)
AUTORITE NT\SERVICE RÉSEAU:(OI)(CI)(F)
BIBICHETTES\Slimane:(OI)(CI)(F)

Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files

Another thing to mention, trying for a work around (invoking initdb) raises a version mismatch error (see below)

C:\Windows\System32>"C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17\bin\initdb.exe" -D "C:\pgdata" -U postgres --locale=fr_FR --encoding=UTF8 -A md5 -W
initdb: erreur : le programme « postgres » a été trouvé par « C:/Program Files/PostgreSQL/17/bin/initdb.exe » mais n'est pas de la même version que initdb C:\Windows\System32>"C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17\bin\initdb.exe" --version
initdb (PostgreSQL) 17.5 C:\Windows\System32>"C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\17\bin\postgres.exe" --version
postgres (PostgreSQL) 17.5