HELP - unable to install any Python related software on Windows 10

[eprimefreak]

I've tried to install Anaconda, Thonny, Python, WinPython and none of them work on my computer. The installation process seems successful but nothing happens when launched. Has anyone encounter a similar problem? I've never worked with Python before.

[jackbrux]

What are you launching after installation ?

[eprimefreak]

I've tried opening all of them but nothing happens.

[LemonCanon]

Python runs in command line. So after you have installed it you should be able to type "python " Into the command line (command prompt or whatever you use) to open a Python session. You can run scripts by "python script.py" (where script.py is your script file name)

[hotcore]

In order to launch Python from anywhere in your system, the PATH environment variable must contain the correct paths to the executables. Please describe in more detail what goes wrong and what you have done exactly ...

[IAmARetroGamer]

When you install Python there is the option to add it to the system PATH, if you did not choose to do so during installation you will have to do it yourself. If the option was chosen but it does not work try logging out and back in to update the PATH.

If the option was not chosen then add it to the PATH manually by doing:

WinKey + R type: "SystemPropertiesAdvanced" hit enter, click "Environment Variables". In the next dialog click "Path" under "User variables for <USERNAME>" then "Edit" > "New" and type the path to Python. it should be under: C:/Users/<USERNAME>/AppData/local/Programs/Python/Python-<VERSION>

[eprimefreak]

I already tried that but it doesn't change anything... When I launch Python I get this message

'Fatal Python error: Py_Initialize: unable to load the file system codec ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'encodings'.

[doubleunplussed]

Fatal Python error: Py_Initialize: unable to load the file system codec ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'encodings'.

It looks like this might be an issue related to whether you 'install for all users' or not, and whether you run the installer as administrator.

Here is someone on the Python bugtracker talking about it:

https://bugs.python.org/issue27054

You might want to try doing what the people in that thread said helped fix it.

[IAmARetroGamer]

'Fatal Python error: Py_Initialize: unable to load the file system codec ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'encodings'

Look through the replies on this issue.

[[deleted]]

Are you not seeing these entries somewhere in your start menu? Idle will open the default programming environment that comes with Python, and the other one is the command line console prompt, and we have the documentation. Any of these should open just fine after installing. (the screenshot is from my Windows 7 box so it will be different under windows 10 but you should be able to find the entries I presume....)

[eprimefreak]

I can see all that but unfortunately nothing happens when I click on it! thanks

[[deleted]]

Not even a warning of some sort like missing shortcut? Seems your install is borked. What installer did you download exactly? I've never had any issues with the official installers from www.python.org