How to completely remove Python from a Windows machine? - python

I installed both Python 2.7 and Python 2.6.5. I don't know what went wrong, but nothing related to Python seems to work any more. e.g. "setup.py install" for certain packages don't recognize the "install" parameter and other odd phenomena...
I would like to completely remove Python from my system.
I tried running the 2.7 and 2.6 msi files and choosing remove Python and then running only 2.6 and reinstalling it. Still stuff don't work.
How do I completely remove Python - from everything? (!)
I would not like to reinstall my entire machine just because of the Python install...

Here's the steps (my non-computer-savvy girlfriend had to figure this one out for me, but unlike all the far more complicated processes one can find online, this one works)
Open Control Panel
Click "Uninstall a Program"
Scroll down to Python and click uninstall for each version you don't want anymore.
This works on Windows 7 out of the box, no additional programs or scripts required.

You will also have to look in your system path. Python puts itself there and does not remove itself: http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000549.htm
Your problems probably started because your python path is pointing to the wrong one.

you can delete it manually.
open Command Prompt
cd C:\Users\<you name>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps
del python.exe
del python3.exe
Now the command prompt won't be showing it anymore
where python --> yields nothing, and you are free to install another version from source / anaconda and (after adding its address to Environment Variables -> Path) you will find that very python you just installed

Run ASSOC and FTYPE to see what your py files are associated to. (These commands are internal to cmd.exe so if you use a different command processor ymmv.)
C:> assoc .py
.py=Python.File
C:> ftype Python.File
Python.File="C:\Python26.w64\python.exe" "%1" %*
C:> assoc .pyw
.pyw=Python.NoConFile
C:> ftype Python.NoConFile
Python.NoConFile="C:\Python26.w64\pythonw.exe" "%1" %*
(I have both 32- and 64-bit installs of Python, hence my local directory name.)

I had window 7 (64 bit) and Python 2.7.12,
I uninstalled it by clicking the python installer from the "download" directory then I selected remove python then I clicked “ finish”.
I also removed the remaining python associated directory & files from the c: drive and also from “my documents” folder, since I created some files there.

Open CMD
To show all packages installed - pip list
To copy the packages name to a file - pip freeze > requirements.txt
To delete all packages - pip uninstall -r requirements.txt -y
Check all packages are removed - pip list
Uninstall pip and other remaining packages
Control panel > Uninstall > Python uninstall (from UI)

First, uninstall Python, then remove the pip packages you installed.
Uninstall Python: "Add or Remove Programs", search for Python and uninstall it.
Remove Pip packages: type in File Explorer %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\Python, and remove the folders you want.
This will clean up any pip package you installed. Otherwise, if you were to reinstall Python, you will find yourself with the same pip packages that you had.

It's actually quite simple.
When you installed it, you must have done it using some .exe file (I am assuming). Just run that .exe again, and then there will be options to modify Python. Just select the "Complete Uninstall" option, and the EXE will completely wipe out python for you.
Also, you might have to checkbox the "Remove Python from PATH". By default it is selected, but you may as well check it to be sure :)

Uninstall the python program using the windows GUI.
Delete the containing folder e.g if it was stored in C:\python36\ make sure to delete that folder

If you still have the python installer on your PC, you can double-click on it (run it, it will open the installer window), and select the "Uninstall" option. It will uninstall that python version (if the installer is for Python3.9, then Python3.9 will be uninstalled, if it is for Python3.10, then that version...)

I know it is an old question, but I ran into this problem with 2.7 and 3.5. Though 2.7 would not show up in my default windows uninstall list, it showed up fine in the ccleaner tools tab under uninstall. Uninstalled and reinstalled afterwards and it has been smooth coding ever since.

Almost all of the python files should live in their respective folders (C:\Python26 and C:\Python27). Some installers (ActiveState) will also associate .py* files and add the python path to %PATH% with an install if you tick the "use this as the default installation" box.

Windows 7 64-bit, with both Python3.4 and Python2.7 installed at some point :)
I'm using Py.exe to route to Py2 or Py3 depending on the script's needs - but I previously improperly uninstalled Python27 before.
Py27 was removed manually from C:\python\Python27 (the folder Python27 was deleted by me previously)
Upon re-installing Python27, it gave the above error you specify.
It would always back out while trying to 'remove shortcuts' during the installation process.
I placed a copy of Python27 back in that original folder, at C:\Python\Python27, and re-ran the same failing Python27 installer. It was happy locating those items and removing them, and proceeded with the install.
This is not the answer that addresses registry key issues (others mention that) but it is somewhat of a workaround if you know of previous installations that were improperly removed.
You could have some insight to this by opening "regedit" and searching for "Python27" - a registry key appeared in my command-shell Cache pointing at c:\python\python27\ (which had been removed and was not present when searching in the registry upon finding it).
That may help point to previously improperly removed installations.
Good luck!

Windows Start Menu > Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Select the app and click the Uninstall button

Related

PyGame cannot load a file when coverted with Autopytoexe [duplicate]

I have python 3.9 I used the command 'pip install auto-py-to-exe' and it downloaded but when I tried to using the command 'auto-py-to-exe' the program just said " 'auto-py-to-exe' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.". I have the latest version of PIP and I also have PATH. What can I do to fix this?
This works on VSCode:
python -m auto_py_to_exe
If I install "auto-py-to-exe" using following command, as described in this link as well as from the comment from Justin Ezequiel (above):
python -m pip install auto-py-to-exe
I am able to run it (in Windows 10) using following command:
python -m auto_py_to_exe
This gave me quite a bit of trouble, as none of the above solutions worked for me. Spent lots of time trying to figure out what I should be adding to PATH with no success.
My issue stemmed from (I think) the fact that I have been using python downloaded from the windows store, which uses a different location to store python in.
With the manual install of python (https://www.python.org) you can specify where python is downloaded and automatically add that location to path.
Steps I took to solve the problem:
Uninstall all versions of python downloaded from the windows store via settings (settings > apps > python > uninstall)
Uninstall all version of python via the control panel (control panel > add or remove programs > python x.x.x > uninstall)
Uninstall auto-py-to-exe (pip uninstall auto-py-to-exe) in case it didnt do that automatically
Install python from python.org. (auto-py-to-exe is not supported in versions greater than 3.10 as of 1/23/2023). So I installed Python 3.10
The settings which were successful for me were:
Custom installation,
check install python for all users,
check add to path,
input 'C:\Python310' (with the respective version number) for install location,
install
Check new python version has been installed python --version
Check pip is installed pip --version
Install auto-py-to-exe pip install auto-py-to-exe
When auto-py-to-exe finishes installing, scroll up through the install info and make sure there are no warnings that state there is a location not found in PATH. If there are, you'll have to do some other research on adding those locations to PATH appropriately (since I don't think I was doing that right).
Assuming no PATH warnings,
9. Run auto-py-to-exe
First you need to type in the terminal (not Python):
auto-py-to-exe
If you are currently in python use exit() to exit then try the above code.
It Depends on in which environment you have installed
Make sure to replace {User} with your user
In Conda Enviournment go to below location Manually
C:\Users\{User}\anaconda3\Scripts\auto-py-to-exe.exe
In Pip, Environment go to the location below
C:\Users\{User}\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37-32\Scripts\auto-py-to-exe.exe
or you can add this path to your environment variable as well for accessing these from anywhere
First check you installed it
pip install auto-py-to-exe
then restart your vscode and check another time.
If still an error, check it in CMD.
As suggested above use:
pip show --files auto-py-to-exe to find out in what directory pip has
installed the scripts. Double check the directory is in %PATH%
This will show you where the installer has placed the binary files. I then changed to that directory which circumvents any path issue. I tried to run the files and found :
OSError: [WinError 1920] The file cannot be accessed by the system: 'C:\\Users\\aaaa\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps\\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.7_qbz5n2kfra8p0\\python.exe'
PS C:\users\aaaa\appdata\local\packages\pythonsoftwarefoundation.python.3.7_qbz5n2kfra8p0\localcache\local-packages\python37\Scripts>
In my case, although I haven't worked out how to fix it yet... It would seem to be trying to refer to an incorrect Python executable, the files in that directory are all 0 length. Unfortunately the "python -m" suggestion didn't work for me, so it's back to the drawing board. Hope that helps you confirm if it's the right solution to chase down.
You need to make sure you have typed cd C:\Users\your_user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.9_qbz5n2kfra8p0\LocalCache\local-packages\Python39\Scripts as a separate command, and then auto-py-to-exe with python 3. Check in file explorer to make sure your path is correct if the cd fails.

how to fix 'auto-py-to-exe' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file

I have python 3.9 I used the command 'pip install auto-py-to-exe' and it downloaded but when I tried to using the command 'auto-py-to-exe' the program just said " 'auto-py-to-exe' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.". I have the latest version of PIP and I also have PATH. What can I do to fix this?
This works on VSCode:
python -m auto_py_to_exe
If I install "auto-py-to-exe" using following command, as described in this link as well as from the comment from Justin Ezequiel (above):
python -m pip install auto-py-to-exe
I am able to run it (in Windows 10) using following command:
python -m auto_py_to_exe
This gave me quite a bit of trouble, as none of the above solutions worked for me. Spent lots of time trying to figure out what I should be adding to PATH with no success.
My issue stemmed from (I think) the fact that I have been using python downloaded from the windows store, which uses a different location to store python in.
With the manual install of python (https://www.python.org) you can specify where python is downloaded and automatically add that location to path.
Steps I took to solve the problem:
Uninstall all versions of python downloaded from the windows store via settings (settings > apps > python > uninstall)
Uninstall all version of python via the control panel (control panel > add or remove programs > python x.x.x > uninstall)
Uninstall auto-py-to-exe (pip uninstall auto-py-to-exe) in case it didnt do that automatically
Install python from python.org. (auto-py-to-exe is not supported in versions greater than 3.10 as of 1/23/2023). So I installed Python 3.10
The settings which were successful for me were:
Custom installation,
check install python for all users,
check add to path,
input 'C:\Python310' (with the respective version number) for install location,
install
Check new python version has been installed python --version
Check pip is installed pip --version
Install auto-py-to-exe pip install auto-py-to-exe
When auto-py-to-exe finishes installing, scroll up through the install info and make sure there are no warnings that state there is a location not found in PATH. If there are, you'll have to do some other research on adding those locations to PATH appropriately (since I don't think I was doing that right).
Assuming no PATH warnings,
9. Run auto-py-to-exe
First you need to type in the terminal (not Python):
auto-py-to-exe
If you are currently in python use exit() to exit then try the above code.
It Depends on in which environment you have installed
Make sure to replace {User} with your user
In Conda Enviournment go to below location Manually
C:\Users\{User}\anaconda3\Scripts\auto-py-to-exe.exe
In Pip, Environment go to the location below
C:\Users\{User}\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python37-32\Scripts\auto-py-to-exe.exe
or you can add this path to your environment variable as well for accessing these from anywhere
First check you installed it
pip install auto-py-to-exe
then restart your vscode and check another time.
If still an error, check it in CMD.
As suggested above use:
pip show --files auto-py-to-exe to find out in what directory pip has
installed the scripts. Double check the directory is in %PATH%
This will show you where the installer has placed the binary files. I then changed to that directory which circumvents any path issue. I tried to run the files and found :
OSError: [WinError 1920] The file cannot be accessed by the system: 'C:\\Users\\aaaa\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps\\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.7_qbz5n2kfra8p0\\python.exe'
PS C:\users\aaaa\appdata\local\packages\pythonsoftwarefoundation.python.3.7_qbz5n2kfra8p0\localcache\local-packages\python37\Scripts>
In my case, although I haven't worked out how to fix it yet... It would seem to be trying to refer to an incorrect Python executable, the files in that directory are all 0 length. Unfortunately the "python -m" suggestion didn't work for me, so it's back to the drawing board. Hope that helps you confirm if it's the right solution to chase down.
You need to make sure you have typed cd C:\Users\your_user_name\AppData\Local\Packages\PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.9_qbz5n2kfra8p0\LocalCache\local-packages\Python39\Scripts as a separate command, and then auto-py-to-exe with python 3. Check in file explorer to make sure your path is correct if the cd fails.

Question about pip using Python from Windows Store

I have python installed through windows store and I can install programs using pip, but when I try to run said programs, they fail to execute in powershell.
How can I make sure that the necessary "scripts" folder is in my path? I never faced these problems when installing from executable.
For example, "pip install ntfy" runs successfully in Powershell.
The command "ntfy send test" fails telling me the term is not part of a cmdlet, function, etc. etc.
The 'ntfy' program is located here /mnt/c/Users/vlouvet/AppData/Local/Packages/PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.7_qbz5n2kfra8p0/LocalCache/local-packages/Python37/Scripts/ntfy.exe
What is the recommended way of editing my path so that programs installed via pip are available across windows store updates of the Python language?
In advance
I highly recommend you not to use python installed from the Windows Store, because you'll face such errors, and even more nasty ones.
The easy solution
Create a virtual environment on a more accessible folder, for example in C:\Users\<user>\python. To do so, do the following:
Using PowerShell, go to your user folder, using cd(Note that usually PowerShell already starts inside your user folder. This is an important setting to have, and if not, you should change your powershell starting point to this folder for the future.);
Now that you're in your user folder, type in the PowerShell mkdir python; cd python;
Now, to create a virtual environment, type python -m venv venv;
(You can verify that your virtual enviroment has been created by listing the folders, with the command ls);
You have created a virtual environment. Now, you need to activate it. To activate, run the following: ./venv/Scripts/activate;
Now, you have fully created and activated a virtual environment for your current PowerShell session. You can now install any packages / programs using pip.
After that, the only thing that you need to do is to add C:\Users\<user>\python\venv\Scripts to your Path, and you're good to go.
Caveats
By adding this folder to your Path, you may be using an outdated python version in the future, since the Scripts folder inside your virtual environment also adds a python executable that will be enabled in the path.
The recommended solution
As I stated before, I do not recommend to have the Microsoft Store version of python installed on your machine. That said, you're probably using it for the conveniences of having the latest Python version installed as soon as they're released. To alleviate this need while also getting rid of your MS Store Python. I recommend you using Chocolatey to install python (and pretty much any other programs for development).
What is Chocolatey?
Chocolatey is a package manager for Windows, pretty much like apt-get for Ubuntu Linux or HomeBrew for MacOS. By using a package manager, you get rid of the hassle of always having to execute the (mostly annoying) install wizards on windows.
To install Chocolatey:
Go to chocolatey.org/install and follow the install instructions;
(Recommended: Take a look on their documentation later to see what Chocolatey is capable of);
With Chocolatey installed, take a test drive and see if it is working properly by running choco -v in PowerShell;
By having Chocolatey installed, you can now run choco install python -y. Let's break down this command:
choco install -> The package installer of chocolatey
python -> the name of the package you want to install
-y -> This tells the installer to skip install verification by saying "Yes to All" scripts that will be executed in order to install a package.
With python installed from chocolatey, you can also see that Python is already added to your path - This means that any python package or executable installed globally will be now available on your machine!
Hope I could help you!
The above answer is good but I managed to get it to work by doing the following.
Find your installation under C:\Users\"your user"\AppData\Local\Packages it will be named something like PythonSoftwareFoundation.Python.3.7_qbz5n2kfra8p0
Open your windows settings in the start menu
In search type Environment variables. Edit environment variables for your account should pop up. Click it
In the top box find Path, click it
On the right Click new and enter C:\Users\"your user"\AppData\Local\Packages\"python install directory name from 1. here"\LocalCache\local-packages\Python37\Scripts inside the little box under the last item in the list
open a new cmd prompt and type the script you wanted it should work.
On Windows you can find the user base binary directory by running
python -m site --user-site
and replacing site-packages with Scripts.
For example, this could return
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Python36\site-packages
so you would need to set your PATH to include
C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\Python36\Scripts
You can set your user PATH permanently in the Control Panel. You may need to log out for the PATH changes to take effect.

I can't use pip (Windows)

I'm wanting to learn machine learning, but it requires that I use 'pip.' I'm still very new to a lot of this stuff. I've installed Python 3.4 64-bit and get-py.py.
When I run pip install sklearn I get 'pip' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.
Here's a screenshot of my environmental variable PATH
https://gyazo.com/c7ec926401878845d5c4f9a556cf00ee
Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have checked out other posts where people had similar issues, but I tried various things and nothing worked.
Easiest solution is to just download a platform like Anaconda for example. It is Python with many libraries (sklearn, pandas, numpy, ...) and also with pip, all in a user-friendly Windows installer package, that takes care of everything for you.
https://www.continuum.io/downloads
If you really want to do it yourself, then
download get-pip.py (https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py)
make sure you have Python installed and in your PATH, for example by running python --version in command prompt
Navigate to the directory, where you downloaded get-pip.py (in command prompt using the command cd).
Run the command python get-pip.py from a command prompt with admin privileges (possibly not needed, but just to make sure).
This should be all. Close your command prompt, open it again and run pip --version to test it. If it doesn't work, then search your computer for a file named pip.exe (most likely in your Python directory) and if you find it, add its path to your PATH variable (given the screenshot, I assume you know how to do this).
I downloaded Python 3.6 and the pip was installed on my system.
I found pip at below location:
C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36\Scripts
Also, before I found pip I used below command on my command prompt to install pyperclip:
python -m pip install pyperclip
For anyone that might have installed Python using the MSI installer, and ticked the box to include pip, but still gets the error 'pip' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file:
It looks like that the pip executable is installed in the \Scripts subdirectory of the Python installation, but that directory does not get automatically added to PATH.
For me, since I had installed Python 2.7, the directory was C:\Python27\Scripts. After adding this path to the PATH environment variable, and open a new CMD window, pip was available as a command.
I've made a workaround that will help you, copy the batch script below and modify it as specified:
#"PATH to python.exe" "PATH to pip.exe" %*
For example like this:
#"C:\programming\bin\python374\python.exe" "C:\programming\bin\python374\Scripts\pip.exe" %*
Save this file as pip.bat on Desktop and then move it to C:\Windows\system32.
For Python 3.7 or higher at least (as today is October 4th 2019) in the installation window you need to check the box "add to PATH" when you first install Python.
I'm late now, but just add python to your environment variables.
It´s explained in this short video, how to set up python to your environment variables:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2q_b4ugPWk
after that pip should work on your cmd prompt, without cd to
"C:\Users\Admin\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python36\Scripts"
This is late but in case anyone runs across this issue, pip installed for me as "pip3". Once I used pip3 as my command and not pip, it worked fine. Threw me for quite a loop since I've been using Python for years.
PIP Install and Upgrade
Ensure you are accessing the right location while accessing pip as shown in my link above. Starting Python 3.4, it is included by default with the Python binary installers.
Environment Variable
It is also a good idea to update the environment variable if the path is not accessible by default, once the installation is complete.
If it is specifically pip you want you could install python again making sure to tick the install pip box which it sounds like you failed to upon initial installation.

Anaconda3 2.4 with python 3.5 installation error (procedure entry not found; Windows 10)

I have just made up my mind to change from python 2.7 to python 3.5 and therefore tried to reinstall Anaconda (64 bit) with the 3.5 environment. When I try to install the package I get several errors in the form of (translation from German, so maybe not exact):
The procedure entry "__telemetry_main_return_trigger" could not be found in the DLL "C:\Anaconda3\pythonw.exe".
and
The procedure entry "__telemetry_main_invoke_trigger" could not be found in the DLL "C:\Anaconda3\python35.dll".
The title of the second error message box still points to pythonw.exe. Both errors appear several times - every time an extraction was completed. The installation progress box reads
[...]
extraction complete.
Execute: "C:\Anaconda3\pythonw.exe" "C:\Anaconda3\Lib_nsis.py" postpkg
After torturing myself through the installation I get the warning
Failed to create Anaconda menus
If I ignore it once gives me my lovely error messages and tells me that
Failed to initialize Anaconda directories
then
Failed to add Anaconda to the system PATH
Of course nothing works, if I dare to use this mess it installs. What might go wrong? On other computers with Windows 10 it works well.
P.S.: An installation of Anaconda2 2.4 with python 2.7 works without any error message, but still is not able to be used (other errors).
Finally I have found the reason. So, if anybody else has this problem:
Here the entry points are an issue as well and Michael Sarahan gives the solution. Install the Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015, which is used by the new version of python, first. After that install the Anaconda-package and it should work like a charm.
You can also use your standard Anaconda installation and just create an environment based on 2.7 / 3.4 etc... Anaconda will download and install all compatible packages from the repository so you have a complete installation.
conda create -n py27 python=2.7 anaconda
conda create -n py34 python=3.4 anaconda
To use the new environment (in Windows), you can point your IDE to the required environment folder:
C:\Anaconda3\envs\py34\python.exe
On the Windows command line, you just need to type:
activate py34
Documentation:
http://conda.pydata.org/docs/py2or3.html
My recommendation would be to reinstall your Anaconda version with Python 2.7 that you previously had working, then just add a new environment for Python 3.x and use that as you need.
I had the same problem, then I Installed "for all users": solved.
Much easier than the links provided for a beginner as I am.
For the problem "Failed to create Anaconda menus", it may because:
This might happen if PATH is too long already. How long is your PATH environment variable? Windows limits this to 1024 characters. There are some workarounds go shorten it here: How do you avoid over-populating the PATH Environment Variable in Windows?
This is other people's question and solution
https://groups.google.com/a/continuum.io/forum/#!topic/anaconda/mjrbE6rKyi8
When I shorted the environment path, it works!
If you are getting errors like:
Failed to create Anaconda menus
Failed to initialize Anaconda directories
Failed to add Anaconda to the system PATH
just ignore them while installation and when installation is done look for the directory "anaconda3" is installed and correct the path accordingly in environment variables path.
In my system, path was set "C:\Anaconda3" but actually it was installed at "C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3". You have to change all 3 path entries for anaconda3 and then try to run "jupyter notebook" in CMD.
If you are using windows, launch the command prompt as administrator and execute the following commands
"C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\pythonw.exe" -E -s "C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\Lib_nsis.py" addpath
"C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\pythonw.exe" -E -s "C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\Lib_nsis.py" mkdirs
"C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\pythonw.exe" -E -s "C:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\Lib_nsis.py" mkmenus
Don't forget to change the path to the path in your system. Before running this commands there will not be any Anaconda Navigator app in your start menu. After executing this commands make sure Anaconda Navigator app is available in the start menu.
Change the directory. It works
C:\miniconda3

Categories

Resources