The error "unable to start local case server" is related to Postgres permissions. This error can occur when a BlackLight case file has been moved to a different machine or file system without archiving it first.
To correct this error, move the case file back to the location where the case was created. Then follow the steps below to archive the case file before moving it.
1- Open BlackLight and highlight the case file to be archived within the 'BlackLight Case Manager' window.
NOTE: The case file cannot be open when archiving it.
2- Click on the [File] menu and select [Create Case Archive...]
3- A 'Save' window appears, allowing the examiner to choose where to save the case archive. Navigate to the destination and click on the Save button.
NOTE: We recommend saving the archive to a drive formatted as NTFS, HFS+, or APFS. There is third party software that can be installed to support these file systems on Windows and on Mac. Please be aware that we do NOT recommend using ExFAT, especially if the drive was formatted using macOS.
4- The archive will complete with a folder containing a bl-casedata text file and a partitions.zip archive. When moving the archive between computers, the folder and its contents must be copied.
5- After copying the archive folder, an examiner can import this archive into a new case file on the new computer.
NOTE: we recommend copying the archive folder from the external drive to the internal disk of the new computer before restoring the archived case. This is especially important if the examiner insists on using an ExFAT formatted drive to transfer the archive folder.
6- Open the 'BlackLight Case Manager' window on the new computer.
7- Click on the [File] menu and select [Restore Case Archive...]
8- An 'Open' window appears. Within this window, navigate to the archive folder containing the bl-casedata text file and partitions.zip file and then select the Open button.
These instructions are also included in this article "Moving a BlackLight case file from one analysis computer or drive to another".