Support for Installing Python on Windows

The goal is to install Python on Windows. Ask yourself the following questions to troubleshoot the Python installation.

Can you launch PowerShell?

When you run PowerShell, it should open a window with text that looks like this:

Windows PowerShell
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

PS C:\Users\guest>

Read online about how to launch PowerShell.

Can you launch PowerShell as Administrator?

When you type start-process powershell –verb runAs into the PowerShell prompt, it will launch another PowerShell with Administrator privileges. This new window might prompt you for your Administrator password.

Read online about how to launch PowerShell as Administrator.

Can you install Python?

Did you download the Python installer and run it to completion? If you need help, read online about installing Python.

Can you run python?

Type python --version into the PowerShell prompt and press Enter. If Python is installed, it will tell you what version is running. It should look something like this:

PS C:\Users\guest> python --version
Python 3.6.3

If you cannot run python --version, then Python is not correctly installed. Read about fixing broken Python installations.

Can you run pip?

Type pip --version into PowerShell and press Enter. If pip is installed, it will tell you what version is running. It should look something like this:

PS C:\Users\guest> pip --version
pip 9.0.1 from c:\program files\python36\lib\site-packages (python 3.6)

Can you install virtualenv?

Were you able to run pip install virtualenv successfully?

What happens when you run pip show virtualenv? It should look something like this:

PS C:\Users\guest> pip show virtualenv
Name: virtualenv
Version: 15.1.0
...

Can you install virtualenvwrapper?

Were you able to run pip install virtualenvwrapper successfully?

What happens when you run pip show virtualenvwrapper? It should look something like this:

PS C:\Users\guest> pip show virtualenvwrapper
Name: virtualenvwrapper
Version: 4.8.2
...

Can you install virtualenvwrapper-win?

Were you able to run pip install virtualenvwrapper-win successfully?

What happens when you run pip show virtualenvwrapper-win? It should look something like this:

PS C:\Users\guest> pip show virtualenvwrapper-win
Name: virtualenvwrapper-win
Version: 1.2.3
...

Did you answer “yes” to all these questions?

1. Can you launch PowerShell?
2. Can you launch PowerShell as Administrator?
3. Can you install Python?
4. Can you run python?
5. Can you run pip?
6. Can you install virtualenv?
7. Can you install virtualenvwrapper?
8. Can you install virtualenvwrapper-win?

No Yes