I’m having trouble setting up MySQL 9.3.0 on a fresh Windows Server 2022 machine. The installation goes smoothly until the database initialization step, where it fails. I’ve used all the default settings, hoping for a simple setup to later migrate my database. Here’s a snippet from the error log:
Executing step: Initializing database (may take a long time)
Attempting to run MySQL Server with --initialize-insecure option...
Starting process for MySQL Server 9.3.0...
Process for mysqld, with ID 5744, was run successfully and exited with code -1073741819.
Failed to start process for MySQL Server 9.3.0.
Database initialization failed.
The firewall rules and service adjustments seem to complete without issues. Any ideas on what might be causing this initialization failure? I’m stumped and could use some help troubleshooting.
yo charlottew, that error’s a pain! have u tried clearing out temp files? sometimes old junk messes with new installs. also, double-check ur windows updates - missing ones can cause weird stuff. if nothin works, maybe try an older mysql version? 9.2 might play nicer with ur setup.
I encountered a similar issue when setting up MySQL 9.3.0 on Windows Server. The solution that worked for me was to manually initialize the data directory. First, open a Command Prompt with Administrator privileges, then navigate to the MySQL bin directory, and run the command mysqld --initialize-insecure --console.
This command should create the initial database files so that you can start the MySQL service normally. Additionally, check that your antivirus or other security applications are not interfering with the installation. If the error persists, reviewing the complete error logs in the MySQL data directory could provide more detailed clues for further troubleshooting.
I’ve had my fair share of MySQL installation headaches, and this one sounds familiar. Have you tried disabling any third-party antivirus software temporarily? Sometimes they can interfere with the initialization process. Another thing to check is your system’s PATH environment variable. Make sure it includes the path to the MySQL bin directory.
If those don’t work, you might want to try a clean uninstall and then reinstall. Use the MySQL Installer to remove all MySQL products, reboot your system, and then attempt a fresh installation. This has solved similar issues for me in the past.
Also, double-check that you have the latest Visual C++ Redistributable installed. MySQL often requires specific versions, and missing these can cause cryptic errors during setup. If you’re still stuck after trying these, the MySQL community forums are a goldmine for troubleshooting obscure installation problems.
hey charlotte, sounds like a real headache! have u checked ur disk space? sometimes low space can cause these weird errors. also, try running the installer as admin if u haven’t already. might be a permissions thing messing with the initialization. good luck!
This looks like a crash during the --initialize-insecure step, and the exit code -1073741819 usually points to an access violation. Check that you’re using the latest MySQL 9.3.0 installer, run it as administrator, and make sure the data directory is empty since leftover files can block initialization. Also avoid spaces/special characters in the installation or data path. You can try running manually from an elevated command prompt in the bin folder: mysqld --initialize-insecure --console This should give clearer errors. If it still fails, review the error log in the data folder and temporarily disable antivirus as it can interfere. If migrating, test initialization on another Windows build or use MySQL 8.4 LTS which is more stable. And if database files become corrupted after repeated failed attempts, a tool like Stellar Repair for MySQL can help repair and migrate them once the service is running.