This seems to be the MOST common problem posted on this list, you should be 
able to find several references to it if you search the posts. Perhaps we need 
to make this more clear in the documentation somewhere?

But I'll say it again... you must untar it in /contrib inside the SOURCE 
directory of postgresql. If you are using cygwin, you can just use the cygwin 
installer to install the postgres source. You have to at least configure the 
postgres source before you can compile postgis - run ./configure 
in /usr/src/postgres* or /usr/local/postgres*. Then untar postgis into the 
contrib directory inside that source directory, and follow the rest of the 
postgis instructions from there.

Chris

Quoting Andrea Rossi <il_vikingo@yahoo.com>:

> I have tried to untar PostGis in the contrib
> directory, but if I do this I can't start the make
> command.
> In my casa is in the directory
> \usr\share\postgresql\contrib
> 
> What could be the problem? Why should be better not to
> use the cygwin installation?
> Thank You.
> 
> --- Sandy Pyke <spyke555@yahoo.ca> wrote:
> > This is not entirely true...
> >
> > You can use the postgresql included with cygwin, as
> > long as you also
> > install the postgresql source package. Once the
> > source package is
> > installed you need to untar the postgis sources to
> > the postgresql
> > contrib directory
> > (/usr/src/postgresql-7.4.1-3/contrib in my case)
> >
> > Beyond this the install proceedure is the same as
> > under Linux. Hope this
> > helps clarify things.
> >
> > Sandy Pyke
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From:
> > postgis-users-bounces@postgis.refractions.net
> > >
> >
> [mailto:postgis-users-bounces@postgis.refractions.net]
> > On
> > > Behalf Of TECHER Jean David
> > > Sent: Friday, March 12, 2004 8:02 AM
> > > To: PostGIS Users Discussion
> > > Subject: RE: [postgis-users] Installation
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi Andrea
> > >
> > > You need to install postgresql from sources. (file
> > *.tar.gz)
> > >
> > > Not from the install from cygwin
> > >
> > > TECHER JEAN DAVID
> > > - Responsable Informatique 01MAP -
> > > e-mail:davidtecher@yahoo.fr
> > > Tel: 06 85 37 36 75
> > > Site PostGIS:
> > http://techer.pascal.free.fr/postgis/index.htm
> > >
> > > -----Message d'origine-----
> > > De : postgis-users-bounces@postgis.refractions.net
> > >
> >
> [mailto:postgis-users-bounces@postgis.refractions.net]De
> > la
> > > part de Andrea Rossi Envoye : vendredi 12 mars
> > 2004 13:23 A :
> > > postgis-users@postgis.refractions.net
> > > Objet : [postgis-users] Installation
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi.
> > > I am trying to installa PostGIS on a PC with WinXP
> >
> > > Professional. I have already installed CygWin with
> >
> > > PostgresSQL (teh version included in it, I have
> > not compiled
> > > it). Where can I fine exat informatin for an
> > installation on
> > > this system Thank-you very much.
> > >
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