How To Solve “Problem running post install step…the Database Cluster Initialisation failed” on PostgreSQL Windows Installation

One day, when I install PostgreSQL on Windows, it always report the following error:

Problem running the post-install step. Installation may not complete correctly.

… when the installation progress bar reached the end.

My configuration:

• Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
• PostgreSQL Server 9.1 64-bit (installer: postgresql-9.1.8-1-windows-x64.exe)

After doing a bit searching, I found this link which contains the solution.

Here I will recap the solutions here:

Solution:

• Uninstall PostgreSQL
• Run command: net user postgres /delete
• Click: Control Panel -> User Accounts -> Configure advanced user profile properties -> delete all “Unknown User” instances that seem to be left from PostgreSQL installation.
• Run: compmgmt.msc -> Click Local Users and Groups -> Users -> New User… -> User name: postgres, Password: postgrespass -> Create
• Run: compmgmt.msc -> Click Local Users and Groups -> Users -> postgres -> Member of-> Add… -> Administrators -> OK
• copy the PostgreSQL installer postgresql-8.4.9-1-windows.exe to C:\
• Run: runas /user:postgres cmd.exe -> cd \ -> postgresql-8.4.9-1-windows.exe -> installed successfully without errors. Checked data folder and confirmed files created successfully.
• Run: compmgmt.msc -> Local Users and Groups -> Users -> postgres -> Member of ->Administrators -> Remove
• Run: compmgmt.msc -> Local Users and Groups -> Users -> postgres -> Member of ->Add… -> Power Users -> OK

Voila! Installation completed successfully!