PG Error could not connect to server: Connection refused Is the server running on port 5432?

Question

I recently updated my machine (MacBook Pro running Mountain Lion) and ever since then, whenever I set up a rails project, my machine craps out and cannot connect to PG. Currently, this is the error I am getting when I try to go to localhost;

PG::ERROR could not connect to server: Connection refused Is the server running on host "localhost"
(::1) and accepting TCP/IP connections on port 5432? could not connect to server: Connection
refused Is the server running on host "localhost" (127.0.0.1) and accepting TCP/IP connections on port 5432? could not connect to server: Connection refused Is the server running on host "localhost" (fe80::1) and accepting TCP/IP connections on port 5432?

Here is a checklist, and list of things I have tried;

1. PostgreSQL version is 9.3.4
2. I have it installed through HomeBrew
3. I have host: localhost in my database.yml file
4. Rails version 4.1.1, ruby 2.0.0p247 (2013-06-27 revision 41674) [x86_64-darwin12.5.0]
5. Ran brew uninstall postgresql then brew install postgresql
6. Tried to access my postgres.conf file but wasn't allowed through PGAdmin and command line

7. Ran locate pg_hba.conf and terminal shot this out;

   WARNING: The locate database (/var/db/locate.database) does not exist.
   

8. I have also tried using rails 4.0 but I still get the problem

9. I can still work on other projects on my machine that were started/finished before I updated my computer.

10. When I run psql from my terminal I get psql: could not connect to server: No such file or directory Is the server running locally and accepting connections on Unix domain socket "/tmp/.s.PGSQL.5432"?

I am really lost here, and am not sure what else to do. Any help would be much appreciated.

UPDATE:

Thanks to this question, all was resolved by simply downloading Postgres.app for Mac. Everything works great now.

Answer 1

if you have installed through brew

$ brew services stop postgresql
#adjust below  path accordingly to your machine 
$ rm /usr/local/var/postgres/postmaster.pid 
$ brew services start postgresql