Re: [Visualpython-users] VPython install problem & workarounds (Windows)

[<aun...@da...>]

Yesssss!!! That's it!

Thank you.

Reagards, Christoph

Debbie Carraway wrote:
> 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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