Fixing 'MariaDB Engine Won't Start' Error on Windows

• MariaDB: An open-source relational database management system similar to MySQL.
• Windows: The operating system where MariaDB is installed.
• Error starting the database engine: This indicates MariaDB isn't running properly on Windows.

The question on Stack Overflow suggests that the MariaDB installer might not have created a Windows service automatically. A Windows service allows applications to run in the background even after you log off.

1. Checking the MariaDB Service:

Here's a snippet of PowerShell code you can run on Windows to check if the MariaDB service exists:

Get-Service "mariadb"

This will display information about the MariaDB service, including its status (running, stopped, etc.).

If the service exists but isn't running, you can use this PowerShell code to start it:

Start-Service "mariadb"

1. Using the Services Management Console (Services.msc):

   • Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog.
   • Type "services.msc" and press Enter.
   • In the Services list, locate "MariaDB" or "MySQL" (depending on your installation).
   • Right-click on the service and select "Start" if it's stopped.
   • You can also set the service startup type to "Automatic" here so it starts automatically when Windows boots.

2. Using the Command Prompt (cmd):

   • Type the following command and press Enter:

     net start "MariaDB"
     

     Replace "MariaDB" with the actual service name if it's different.

3. Using the MariaDB Command Line:

   • mysqld --defaults-file="C:\Program Files\MariaDB 10.x\my.ini"
     

     Replace the paths with your actual installation locations.