Pip won't run, won't install saying it already exists, and directory location doesn't exist

Python Help
1

python -m ensurepip -upgrade
Looking in links: c:\Users\dwigh\AppData\Local\Temp\tmpc9dgcwo3
Requirement already satisfied: pip in c:\users\dwigh\appdata\local\programs\python\python313\lib\site-packages

Then I tried this:
C:\Users\dwigh>python
Python 3.13.4 (tags/v3.13.4:8a526ec, Jun 3 2025, 17:46:04) [MSC v.1943 64 bit (AMD64)] on win32
Type “help”, “copyright”, “credits” or “license” for more information.

python -m pip
File “”, line 1
python -m pip
^^^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

How do I get there from here?

2

Hello,

note that when you type either python or py by itself in the command prompt, you are switching to the Python editor (i.e., that is in itself an instruction to the system to switch over to the Python editor). This is where you can enter Python instructions (code) to execute. This is why you are getting the “SyntaxError: invalid syntax”.

The command prompt on the other hand is the platform that accepts instructions to interact with your operating system to perform various tasks including instructions to run a Python module.

It is really easy to tell the difference. If you see this: >>>, you are in the Python editor (you may enter Python instructions/code - same as if you were in IDLE). If you instead sea a Path directory, you are in the command prompt. You may enter commands to interact with your operating system.

Please understand the distinction between the two.

3

I do understand, but I’m also thrashing over here. Python won’t run from the windows command line, but will run from the icon. Pip won’t run anywhere. I THOUGHT that the page I was looking at had something like:
$ python -m pip

meaning it was being run from within python.

4

Have you tried including the Path of the Python module that you are attempting to run?

For example, instead of typing just this:

python -m your_module_name_here

Please note that there is no need to include the .py when doing so just the name.

Instead try:

python -m C:\folder1\folder2\...\your_module_name_here

Have you?

An alternative is to move your command line path directory to where your Python module is located - then apply your original command. For example, assuming you hava a Python module named tester.py in this directory: C:\folder1\folder2\tester.py, in the command prompt, you can type this (the path will be shown in the command prompt):

chdir C:\folder1\folder2

Now, you can simply type:

python -m tester

Then it should work just fine.

Please be aware that if the Python module is not in the currently active Path of the command prompt, you have two options:

1. Change the directory path in the command prompt
or
2. Include the path directory along with the module name
5

AI helped me find the problem. When python was installing, it was setting path variables of:
c:\users\xxxxx\appdata\local\programs\python\python313\lib\site-packages and
c:\users\xxxxx\appdata\local\programs\python\python313

Pip resides in:
c:\users\xxxxx\appdata\local\programs\python\python313\Scripts

And when I installed, I told it to update the PATH variable. So, evidently Python has a screwed up install.

6

I tried using Anaconda, and it was treating my machine like it was a Linux box, so my ODBC data was not working.

Now things are working. This code is AI generated. I only had the first 6-8 lines in my code.

import pandas as pd
import pyodbc
import sys
import os
import platform
import datetime

# Print system information for debugging
print(f"Python version: {sys.version}")
print(f"Platform: {platform.platform()}")
# Use pyodbc.version instead of pyodbc.__version__
print(f"PyODBC version: {pyodbc.version}")  # Correct way to get pyodbc version
print(f"Date and time: {datetime.datetime.now()}")
print("-" * 50)

# Get the list of drivers
drivers = pyodbc.drivers()

# Check if any drivers were found
if drivers:
    print(f"Found {len(drivers)} ODBC Drivers:")
    for i, driver in enumerate(drivers, 1):
        print(f"{i}. {driver}")
else:
    print("No ODBC drivers found. Possible reasons:")
    print("1. No ODBC drivers are installed on your system")
    print("2. The ODBC drivers are not properly configured")
    print("3. PyODBC cannot access the driver registry")
    
    # Suggest solutions based on the operating system
    if platform.system() == 'Windows':
        print("\nPossible solutions for Windows:")
        print("- Check ODBC Data Sources in Administrative Tools")
        print("- Verify that drivers are installed (SQL Server, MySQL, etc.)")
        print("- Run the application with administrator privileges")
    elif platform.system() == 'Linux':
        print("\nPossible solutions for Linux:")
        print("- Install unixODBC and required drivers")
        print("- Check if odbcinst -j shows the correct ODBC installation")
        print("- Verify driver configurations in /etc/odbcinst.ini")
    elif platform.system() == 'Darwin':  # macOS
        print("\nPossible solutions for macOS:")
        print("- Install unixODBC via Homebrew: brew install unixodbc")
        print("- Install specific drivers (e.g., brew install freetds)")
        print("- Check driver configurations in /usr/local/etc/odbcinst.ini")

print("-" * 50)
print("End of List")

C:\Users\dwigh>python documents\ml_access.py
Python version: 3.13.4 (tags/v3.13.4:8a526ec, Jun 3 2025, 17:46:04) [MSC v.1943 64 bit (AMD64)]
Platform: Windows-11-10.0.26100-SP0
PyODBC version: 5.2.0
Date and time: 2025-06-10 22:53:05.470356

Found 6 ODBC Drivers:

  1. SQL Server
  2. ODBC Driver 17 for SQL Server
  3. Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb, *.accdb)
  4. Microsoft Excel Driver (*.xls, *.xlsx, *.xlsm, *.xlsb)
  5. Microsoft Access Text Driver (*.txt, *.csv)
  6. Microsoft Access dBASE Driver (*.dbf, *.ndx, *.mdx)

End of List