PostgreSQL database service

Question

I downloaded PostgreSQL from their site - http://www.postgresql.org/download/windows

However, I can\'t create a database from pgAdmin and get a mess

Answer 1

Use services (start -> run -> services.msc) and look for the postgresql-[version] service.

• If it is not there you might have just installed pgAdmin and not installed PostgreSQL itself.
• If it is not running try to start it, if it won't start open the event-viewer (start -> run -> eventvwr) and look for error messages relating to the PostgreSQL service.
• If it does start check the startup type, if you want it to start with windows it should be "Automatic"; or perhaps "Automatic, delayed start" if you don't want it to slow down startup too much.

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Adding to the first, because in a different comment you've said the service isn't there. It is possible to download a standalone pgAdmin so you can connect to an external PostgreSQL database. It would seem you have done such a thing, or explicitly chosen to not add the service. Just try the One Click Installer, which still allows proper configuration of installation directory despite its name.