PostgreSQL 9.0b4 - Install Error reading file ..../9.0/data/postgresql.conf

Installation of PostgreSQL 9.0 Beta 4 on Windows 32-bit (Server 2003 & XP) fails with message in log file:

Problem running post-install step. Installation may not complete correctly
Error reading file C:/Program Files/PostgreSQL/9.0/data/postgresql.conf

PostgreSQL services is not created and data directory is empty.

This is a default install, with "postgres" user pre-created and given full permissions on C: drive.
All failing machines have various enterprise security installed.
How can I get more detail on the error?

Tail of install log:

[12:48:52] Running the post-installation/upgrade actions:
[12:48:52] Delete the temporary scripts directory...
[12:48:52] Write the base directory to the ini file...
[12:48:52] Write the version number to the ini file...
Initialising the database cluster (this may take a few minutes)...
Executing cscript //NoLogo "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0/installer/server/initcluster.vbs" "postgres" "postgres" "****" "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0" "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\data" 5432 "DEFAULT"
Script exit code: 0

Script output:
WScript.Shell Initialized...
Scripting.FileSystemObject initialized...

WScript.Network initialized...
Called IsVistaOrNewer()...
'winmgmts' object initialized...
Version:5.2
MajorVersion:5
Ensuring we can write to the data directory (using cacls):
Start DoCmd(echo y|cacls "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\data" /E /T /G "AdminUser":F)...
Executing batch file 'rad0C081.bat'...
Start DoCmd("C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\bin\initdb.exe" --pwfile "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\rad31AB4.tmp" --encoding=UTF-8 -A md5 -U postgres -D "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\data")...
Executing batch file 'rad0C081.bat'...
Reading: objConfFile is nothing...
Writing: objConfFile is nothing...
Called IsVistaOrNewer()...
'winmgmts' object initialized...
Version:5.2
MajorVersion:5
Granting service account access to the data directory (using cacls):
Start DoCmd(echo y|cacls "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\data" /E /T /C /G "postgres":F)...
Executing batch file 'rad0C081.bat'...
initcluster.vbs ran to completion

Script stderr:

Configuring database server startup...
Executing cscript //NoLogo "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\installer\server\startupcfg.vbs" 9.0 "postgres" "****" "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0" "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\data" "postgresql-9.0"
Script exit code: 0

Script output:
Start DoCmd("C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\bin\pg_ctl.exe" register -N postgresql-9.0 -U postgres -P "pgdbadmin" -D "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\data" -w)...
startupcfg.vbs ran to completion

Script stderr:

Creating menu shortcuts...
Executing cscript //NoLogo "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\installer\server\createshortcuts.vbs" 9.0 "postgres" 5432 "PostgreSQL 9.0" "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0" "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\data" "postgresql-9.0"
Script exit code: 0

Script output:
Start FixupFile(C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\scripts\serverctl.vbs)...
Opening file for reading...
Closing file (reading)...
Replacing placeholders...
Opening file for writing...
Closing file...
End FixupFile()...
Start FixupFile(C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\scripts\runpsql.bat)...
Opening file for reading...
Closing file (reading)...
Replacing placeholders...
Opening file for writing...
Closing file...
End FixupFile()...
createshortcuts.vbs ran to completion

Script stderr:

Starting the database server...
Executing cscript //NoLogo "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\installer\server\startserver.vbs" postgresql-9.0
Script exit code: 0

Script output:
startserver.vbs ran to completion

Script stderr:

Loading additional SQL modules...
Executing cscript //NoLogo "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\installer\server\loadmodules.vbs" "postgres" "****" "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0" "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\data" 5432
Script exit code: 0

Script output:
Installing the adminpack module in the postgres database...
Start DoCmd("C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\bin\psql.exe" -p 5432 -U postgres -f "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\share\contrib\adminpack.sql" postgres)...
Executing 'C:\DOCUME~1\AdminUser\Local Settings\Temp\1\rad05CA1.bat'...
loadmodules.vbs ran to completion

Script stderr:

[12:49:01] Write the data directory to the ini file...
[12:49:01] Write the port number, service ID, locale and superuser to the ini file...
[12:49:01] Write ServiceID(postgresql-9.0) to registry/ini...
Problem running post-install step. Installation may not complete correctly
Error reading file C:/Program Files/PostgreSQL/9.0/data/postgresql.conf
Creating Uninstaller
Creating uninstaller 25%
Creating uninstaller 50%
Creating uninstaller 75%
Creating uninstaller 100%
Installation completed
Log finished 08/30/10 at 12:49:22

Hello,

Looks to me as a permission issue, where the .vbs files does not have permission to execute a .bat files.

What does the following command gives:

Hello Sachim.

Thanks for the proposed diagnostic test - result below.

Sorry for the delay in replying but was away from system for some time.

Thanks,

Brendan

P.S.
This may be totally irrelevant but: while poking through the install logs on one of the machines on which the install failed I recall noticing that the command you suggested appeared in the log file with the actual password argument replaced by some placeholder characters (something like "****") - do you know if this is a normal logging obfuscation, or is the supplied password being blanked out somewhere?

C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\installer\server>cscript //NoLogo "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\installer\server\initcluster.vbs" "postgres" "postgres" "password-was-here" "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0" "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\data" 5432 "DEFAULT"
WScript.Shell Initialized...
Scripting.FileSystemObject initialized...

WScript.Network initialized...
Called IsVistaOrNewer()...
'winmgmts' object initialized...
Version:5.1
MajorVersion:5
Ensuring we can write to the data directory (using cacls):
Start DoCmd(echo y|cacls "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\data" /E /T /G "mcmahon_b":F)...
Executing batch file 'radEDDDF.bat'...
Start DoCmd("C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\bin\initdb.exe" --pwfile "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\rad5F16C.tmp" --encoding=UTF-8 -A md5 -U postgres -D "C:\
Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\data")...
Executing batch file 'radEDDDF.bat'...
Reading: objConfFile is nothing...
Writing: objConfFile is nothing...
Called IsVistaOrNewer()...
'winmgmts' object initialized...
Version:5.1
MajorVersion:5
Granting service account access to the data directory (using cacls):
Start DoCmd(echo y|cacls "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\data" /E /T /C /G "postgres":F)...
Executing batch file 'radEDDDF.bat'...
initcluster.vbs ran to completion

Hi,

Those asterisks are to mask the password in the log file.

Can you please run the following command on your system using an administrator?

Create a password file contains database-password.
i.e. "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.0\rad5F16C.tmp" contains "postgres-password" as text.

And, please post the output of the whole process.