PostgreSQL pg_ctl register error under Windows 7

Question

Under Windows 7, PostgreSQL 9.3.2, I'm trying to register as a service a second instance of PostgreSQL on the same server, using a different port number and data directory. The 2nd cluster was successfully created with the initdb command, under C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.3\data2.

When I run the following pg_ctl register command from C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.3\bin, I get an error message:

pg_ctl register -N postgresql9.2_2nd_cluster -U "NT AUTHORITY\NetworkService" -D "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.3\data2" -S auto -o "-p 5431"

pg_ctl: could not open service manager

I googled this, but without much success.

Right on, a_horse_with_no_name ! I had to execute that command with administrator privileges on my DOS console. Thanks! — Sébastien Clément, Mar 31 '14 at 18:39
@SébastienClément I think you mean "command prompt" or "cmd.exe" ... — Craig Ringer, Apr 01 '14 at 03:52

score 13 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 01 '14 at 03:54

This error:

pg_ctl: could not open service manager

would suggest that you're probably on a UAC-enabled machine, and you're running in a non-admin console.

When you launch your console from Start->Command Prompt, right click on it and choose "Run as Administrator".

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 16 '21 at 06:22

Open Command Prompt as admin
Open services (win+R -> services.msc)
If u can see PostgreSQL, then unregister it.
To Unregister the PostgreSQL,

pg-ctl unregister [-N SERVICENAME] 
**%path%\PostgreSQL\12\bin\pg_ctl unregister -N "service_name"**

*service name will be displayed on services

PostgreSQL pg_ctl register error under Windows 7

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