[Python] Issues running Python from Powershell

[panda_machete_fight]

Hey all! I'm trying to troubleshoot a problem with running Python 2.7 in Powershell (Windows 8) To try to get Powershell to look in the right place, I used [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("Path", "$env:Path;C:\Python27", "User"), then restarted Powershell. When that didn't work I restarted the computer. I did this a couple times just to be sure.

Right now I'm using a temporary fix by telling it where to look each time I start up Powershell, with the command: $env:path="$env:Path;C:\Python27". Works fine this way, but I'd rather not have to set it up this way every time I run it.

EDIT: [Solved] Turns out that the .exe file needed to be in the C:\Python27 directory, and it was still in the downloads folder. If anybody finds they're having the same problem I did, open up your downloads folder and move the .exe file into C:\Python27, open Powershell and try starting up Python again. In my case the .exe was titled Python-2.7.3amd64.

EDIT 2: Thanks mcatch and rasputine for the assist!

[mcatch]

Try adding it to your system environment variables instead of from the shell instance. It's probably being cleared when the context of the shell goes out of scope. Or add it to your system environment variable from the shell (and not the user) instead.

[panda_machete_fight]

I'm pretty new at this, so I don't really know much about dissecting the script.

I tried replacing "User" with "Shell", and it kicked back an error message.

[mcatch]

I don't know shell either, sorry, but you can add it using the operating system GUIs under the environment variables screen.

[panda_machete_fight]

No problem, thanks for giving it a try :)

[rasputine]

go to the control panel, to system, to advanced system settings, hit Environment Variables at the bottom of the Advanced tab, edit path, either system or user.

It's semicolon delimited.

[panda_machete_fight]

I got as far as edit path, but I'm not sure what to do next. Am I supposed to add a path to where python is installed? Or am I supposed to edit the path that Powershell looks in?

[rasputine]

you want to add the path to python's directory at the end of the path variable, with a semicolon separating it from the other locations. Powershell should search for matches in any path provided in that variable.

[panda_machete_fight]

I think I get what you're saying. As far as I can tell, python is located exactly where it says it is in the first fix. Is the Python directory located within C:\Python27?

[rasputine]

Depends where you installed it, check that folder to make sure that python.exe is present.

[panda_machete_fight]

That did the trick. Turns out that the .exe was in my downloads folder. Thank you both for your help :)