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Re: [Visualpython-users] VPython install problem & workarounds (Windows)
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From: <Jim...@no...> - 2005-07-08 16:02:44
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Thank-you for this wonderfully detailed posting.
Have you considered raising the issues, regarding the Microsoft
Installer, on comp.lang.python or entering it as a bug?
-- jv
----- Original Message -----
From: Debbie Carraway <deb...@nc...>
Date: Friday, July 8, 2005 9:17 am
Subject: [Visualpython-users] VPython install problem & workarounds
(Windows)
> Hello,
>
> I noticed in reading the list archives that a few people mentioned
> an
> installation problem with VPython under Windows. I encountered
> this
> while trying to automate the installs for widespread distribution,
> and I
> have found the cause and have some workarounds.
>
> I'm sorry for the length of this post but I wanted to be sure
> there's
> enough detail for folks to be sure they are seeing the same
> problem
> before trying the workarounds.
>
> ---
>
> VPython depends on Python. The current version of VPython (2.4-
> 3.22b)
> depends on Python 2.4.1.
>
> There are problems with both the Python installer and the VPython
> installer.
> Python installer issue
> ------------------------
> The real problem is with the Python 2.4.1 installer. Python will
> put the
> InstallPath registry setting (which indicates where Python is
> installed)
> under HKEY_CURRENT_USER instead of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE under some
> circumstances:
> (1) if you are not a member of the Administrators group
> (2) if you choose "Install for Just Me" rather than "Install for
> All
> Users",
> (3) if you automate the Python install using "msiexec.exe /i
> python-2.4.1.msi /q". The /q (quiet) switch causes different
> behavior
> than the defaults with a manual install ("msiexec.exe /i python-
> 2.4.1.msi").
> This is a mistake in the Python installer. The path to an
> installed
> application always belongs under HKLM, because the path to
> installed
> software is a machine-specific setting. If the path is in HKCU,
> the
> InstallPath setting can follow a user to a machine where Python is
> not
> installed.
>
>
>
> VPython installer issue
> ------------------------
> The VPython installer looks for the path to Python. The installer
> *only*
> looks in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE for the InstallPath (specifically,
> HKLM\Software\Python\PythonCore\2.4\InstallPath). This is a
> reasonable
> assumption, but doesn't actually work with the Python installer.
>
> The problem is that the VPython installer does not gracefully
> handle the
> situation in which it cannot find the InstallPath for Python, such
> as
> when the InstallPath is in HKEY_CURRENT_USER (see "What it looks
> like
> when things go wront installing VPython" below). The VPython
> installer
> prompts for the path to Python, and then does not seem to be able
> use it.
>
>
> This will result in the following scenario when you try to run the
> VPython installer:
>
>
> What it looks like when things go wrong installing VPython
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> -
> 1. Start the VPython Installer. Under Windows XP Service Pack 2,
> you'll
> be prompted by Windows to run the app because it's from an
> "Unknown
> Publisher". Click Run.
> (It would be helpful if the installer were digitally signed,
or
> if the
> publisher were not Unknown. But in the interim I've written a
> little
> helper called DoRunRun that can be downloaded from
> http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/tools/15465.html/ for anyone
> interested in automating the installation.)
>
> 2. Click Next to get started. An error message appears. Setup is
> the
> title, and the text says "Could not locate where Python 2.4 is
> installed. You will be asked where to install the VPython
> extensions."
> Click OK.
>
> 3. The dialog box says "Setup will install VPython for Python 2.4
> into
> the following folder." However, no folder is listed. You are
> prompted
> for a location. You might try manually entering or browsing to
> C:\Python24 or C:\Python24\.
>
> 4. Then there is a second error message, identical to the first.
> Setup
> is the title, and the text says "Could not locate where Python 2.4
> is
> installed. You will be asked where to install the VPython
> extensions."
> Click OK.
>
> 5. You are at the Select Components dialog. Accept the defaults
> for a
> full install and click Next.
>
> 6. Then the Additional Tasks dialog appears. Accept the defaults
> and
> click Next.
>
> 7. You are at the Ready to Install dialog. Click Install. Now you
> get
> the final error message. The title is Error, and the text is "You
> must
> enter a folder name." Click OK. The installer quits without
> installing
> VPython.
>
>
>
>
> Workarounds
> ------------
>
> There are three workarounds. All require installing or
> reinstalling Python.
>
> (1) Easiest:
> Uninstall Python, and reinstall it as Administrator. Choose the
> "Install
> for All Users" option. You should then be able to install VPython.
>
>
> (2) Registry hack:
> Manually add both of the following in the registry entries (string
> values):
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Python\PythonCore\2.4
\InstallPath\@="C:\Python24"
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Python\PythonCore\2.4
\InstallPath\InstallGroup\@="Python
> 2.4"
>
> Note: @ is the (Default) value.
>
> This is the minimum to get through the VPython install. You
> should make
> sure that you get all the Python registry settings, really. You'd
> probably want to duplicate everything under
> HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Python in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. The
> settings
> under that key really belong under HKLM, not HKCU.
>
>
> (3) How to make a silent install of Python that puts its
> InstallPath
> settings in HKLM rather than HKCU:
> Specify a property on the command line so that the application is
> installed for all users. Here's how (case DOES matter):
> "msiexec.exe /i python-2.4.1.msi ALLUSERS=1 /q"
>
>
> Regards,
> Debbie Carraway
>
> --
> Debbie Carraway
> Asst. Director, Microcomputer Systems
> Information Technology Division, NC State University
> Voice: 919.515.5498 AIM: DeborahCarraway
>
>
>
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