Postgresql goes into recovery mode ....

Hi , <p>I ran  a query in my server  and it runs till  my pgsql is put in recovery mode. <p>SQL: <p><tt>UPDATE 
email_bankset userid=(select userid  from t_a where email_id=email_bank.email_id)</tt><br /><tt>where exists (select
email_idfrom t_a where email_bank.email_id=t_a.email_id) ;</tt><tt></tt><p>email_bank has 1 million record and t_a as
35Krecords<tt></tt><p><b>explain is:</b><tt></tt><p><tt>NOTICE:  QUERY PLAN:</tt><tt></tt><p><tt>Seq Scan on
email_bank (cost=0.00..628392.37 rows=1009182 width=34)</tt><br /><tt>  SubPlan</tt><br /><tt>    ->  Index Scan
usingt_a_1 on t_a  (cost=0.00..196.12 rows=325 width=4)</tt><br /><tt>    ->  Index Scan using t_a_1 on t_a 
(cost=0.00..196.12rows=325 width=4)</tt><tt></tt><p><tt>EXPLAIN</tt><p>I find that postgresql initially consumes abt,
52% CPU  runs for sometime  and then CPU utilization falls to <br />normal , but system load keeps increasing <p>also
pgsqldoes not respond to cancel requests even. <p>when i try to make another connection i get the error  "Database
systemin recovery mode ..." <p>what am i supposed to do  to bring postgresql to an usable state  from <br />here?
<p>systemconfigs are: <p>database: RH62 + pgsql 7.1.3 + 1 GB ram + dualPIII 800 + SCSI  HDD <br />btw i was using PSQL
7.2client client to connect to PGSQL 7.1.3 (is that ok?) <br />  <br />  <p>thanks for help in advance.. <br /> 
<p>regds<br />malalh. <br />