A whole bunch of issues...

[Gustafa]

I run Vista32, and I have all the latest updates. HEM is installed on a different partition (D). I also keep my PostgreSQL database on D, though the program itself is on C. I run PostgreSQL 9.0.x. A while back I had to wipe C and reinstall windows, so Windows doesnt seem to "know" that HEM is installed, so if I go to uninstall it wont be among the listed programs. However HEM has worked fine for the 6 months since I did this.

I started HEM today and got a common error:
"The following error occurred when trying to open the database: Failed to establish a connection to '127.0.0.1'."
I have made no relevant changes on my PC that I can think of since I last used HEM (yesterday).
I went to pgAdmin and my database wasnt listed, which I thought was strange.
I went to task manager > services and PostgreSQL wasnt running. I tried to start it (right click > start) but no response.

I've tried uninstalling / reinstalling PostgreSQL several times, both version 8 and 9 from the website, and the installer provided with HEM. Now I get the following error when I try to install it:
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l609/photogustafa/Capture2.jpg
When I follow the path provided I find there is no folder named "Appdata". However in the folder "Users" there are now several folders named postgres, postgres.username, postgres.username.000, etc. When I uninstall I get the following error message:
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l609/photogustafa/Capture-5.jpg

If I go to task manager > services and try to start postgreSQL I am told "The operation could not be completed. Access is denied."

I have tried starting or creating a new database from pgAdmin but get the following error message:
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l609/photogustafa/Capture3.jpg

I have uninstalled avast! and deactivated windows firewall, but to no avail. I have also tried activating and deactivating UAC, no effect.

Note that I cant uninstall HEM in the normal way. I tried moving my current installation to the trash can and making a fresh install but I was told that HEM was already installed - which of course is true, though I have no idea how to remove it so that Windows "knows" I have removed it.

Halp! What to dooooo?!?!

[Sarek]

f you have Win7 (or Vista), consider the following:
1) PC name must be in English and "in one word" - requires reboot after changing.
2) The same for Windows user name. If not - create new Win user with EN name and reboot PC for this user when install Postgres. And he must have admin rights. After installation you can kill this new user - his mission is completed.
3) Secondary logon service must be set to "Autostart".
4) UAC = OFF
5) Disable firewall and antivirus when installing Postgres and HM. Or uninstall them at all.
6) All installations must run "as admin" (by right-click on file). And do them as first thing after PC reboot.
7) If you want to change install path for Postgres (or to set non-default folder for database cluster) - download "standalone" installation file from Download PostgreSQL | EnterpriseDB (http://www.enterprisedb.com/products-services-training/pgdownload#windows)
8) If your Windows is not in English - you have to install Postgres not in default folder in Program_Files. Create new (example: c:\postgresql) first and select it when install.
9) Install Postgres and HM separarelly, one after one. As admin. If HM (when runs for the 1st time) says "no database" - simply create it via DBControlpanel.
10) If Postgres install fails - after uninstalling don't forget to kill windows user named "postgres":
Go to Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt > Right-Click > Run As Administrator
In the window that appears please type the following and press enter:
net user postgres /delete
exactly as shown. You should get a confirmation if it was successful.
11) Run all pokerclients "as admin" too.

[Gustafa]

Ok I tried the things you said.
Now when I try to install postgreSQL I get the following error messages:

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l609/photogustafa/Capture4.jpg

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l609/photogustafa/Capture5.jpg

...but the install still completes.

When I run HEM I get the same old "cant connect", and no option to create a new database. The only thing that happens is that I get the following 3 error messages every time I click connect.

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l609/photogustafa/Capture7.jpg

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l609/photogustafa/Capture8.jpg

http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l609/photogustafa/Capture9.jpg

I click connect and the same messages loop again.

1) How do I remove HEM completely from PC when I dont have the option of using an installer? (see my original post)
2) How do I save my notes when I cant get into HEM and run export? (I have already made a copy of the Config folder)
3) How do I remove all the bits and bobs of previous PostgreSQL installations? I keep getting this error message (if it is an error message) every time I uninstall (no matter what version it is)? I have done the "net user postgres /delete" thing.
http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l609/photogustafa/Capture-5.jpg

I run everything as administrator.

[Patvs]

1) How do I remove HEM completely from PC when I dont have the option of using an installer? (see my original post)
2) How do I save my notes when I cant get into HEM and run export? (I have already made a copy of the Config folder)
3) How do I remove all the bits and bobs of previous PostgreSQL installations? I keep getting this error message (if it is an error message) every time I uninstall (no matter what version it is)? I have done the "net user postgres /delete" thing.


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1. You can remove HoldemManager/PostgreSQL with Revo FREE Uninstall: http://faq.holdemmanager.com/questions/126/Using+Revo+Uninstaller+
You don't need to uninstall HoldemManager.
All your problems are PostgreSQL related.
When you use Revo, it will also delete all the entries from your system's registry.

2. If you can't access your old database, you won't be able to export your
Try moving the entire /data folder to a different location. (like C:/PostgreSQL or D:/PostgreSQL) Reinstall PostgreSQL to that new location, and this time install it to a different port number (5433 or 5434).
And you should be able to connect to it, without getting the errors you get now. (unless there is a corruption in an index. in which case it will be nearly impossible to retrieve the notes)

3. See 1. You can also manually delete the entries from the registry.
Most important to delete is: Computer/HKEY_Current_user/software/pgadminIII/server/(5432)
which holds the information which port is used.



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4. Also install SQL 8.2 to port 5435 and try to connect to that.
SQL 8.2 will always run. (about 5% HM users with problems with SQL 8.3/8.4/9.0 still use it) PostgreSQL: Choose a Mirror (http://wwwmaster.postgresql.org/download/mirrors-ftp/binary/v8.2.21/win32/postgresql-8.2.21-1.zip)

[Gustafa]

I've tried everything you suggest except installing SQL 8.2. I had a look at the installation instructions and I didnt understand a word ("Do you wish to install a897ga6g34 or f8g78933? Choose wisely!"). I formatted everything, reinstalled windows, start everything as administrator, killed the windows user, etc etc. But I still get the same error messages. I get error messages when I install, when I try to run it, when I try to start it from services and when I uninstall it.

Really I have no idea what to do now. Could you find it in your heart, and no doubt busy schedule, to hit me up on Teamviewer?

[Patvs]

pm sent

[Gustafa]

once again excellent work from the HEM support.
the problem ive been struggling with for days resolved in 10 minutes.

ty you so much for providing a great product and great support!