If I already have it setup on my local hard drive, how would I go about running it off an external hard drive that'd I be using on my desktop and laptop? Would it be easiest to install postgres to the external hard drive, and then copy my database over to it?

Yes, create backups of your databases, install postgres on the external, then restore the databases in the new postgres. Then you'll have to tell your tracking software where to find the dbs. There may be a few other things required but I did it around a year ago and don't remember exactly. I believe there was a thread in the old PT forums that helped.

Oh yeah, make sure you backup the dbs and hand histories often, my external died after four months. Now I backup HHs on the laptop, desktop, external, and a data DVD just to be a supernit about it.

I don't think it's a good idea to put the DB on an external hard drive. First it will slow down because of the USB access. External hard drive generaly are slower than internal (smaller rpm). And external HD are generaly not as well resilient as internal. So the big number of access to the HD will wear it out quick.
I think there is better solution to your problem.
In my opinion.

I'm getting a good external case off newegg and I will use that with one of the extra sata hard drives I already have. I agree, I wouldn't trust a regular external hard drive to keep my songs let alone my poker hands.

This is really quite easy and I run my DB off a external HDD which I plug into either of the pc's I'm using at different locations.

I currently run FTP, Spadeeye, HEM and my postgres database straight from an external drive.

You need to edit one line in the registry which tells postgres that you have moved the data folder (which you move to the external hdd) and once that is done any pc's with this mod done will automatically see your up to date database.

There's more detailed instructions on the postgres wiki about moving the data folder.

Hope that helps

My laptop HD is quite full. Would moving my poker DB to an external drive be a straight forward solution to this issue?

I've recently bought a new hard drive and I would like to transfer my Holdem Manager database to the new hard drive, as it is taking up too much space on my old one. How would I go about doing this?


You can probably reclaim some space by deleting your log files and turning off logging.

To turn off logging, follow these instructions. This is the first thing I do anytime I install SQL for someone.

- Start > My Computer > Tools > Folder Options > View > UnCheck 'Hide Extensions for known file types' > OK

- C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\data\postgresql.conf > Right-Click > Open With.. > NotePad > Check 'Always use this program'

- Scroll about half way down to ~Lines 245 - 260:

- The last line of this block of code, for the 'logging_collector', must be changed from On to Off.



File > Save; File > Close

Start > Programs > PostgreSQL 8.3 > Reload Configuration.

thx for that awesome info fozzy
i assume its ok to delete all the logs (there was 4.7 gigs of them) in pg_log folder ?

Yes. Once you delete all those files:

• PGAdmin
• Full/Vacuum/Analyze
• Reindex
• Start >Programs > Postgresql > 8.3 > Stop Service
• Defrag - I recommend www.defraggler.com
• Do a cold reboot (Start > Turn Off > Wait at least 20 seconds > Power On)
• If you need to use postgresql for something before rebooting:
• Start >Programs > Postgresql > 8.3 > Start Service

I have this done. Make sure you buy a laptop 7200rpm hard drive