Trying to Download Python 3.12.3 on Windows 11

Python Help
1

Hi,

I’m a total newbie here. Please let me know if I should be posting this somewhere else. I am trying to download the latest version of Python. I’m running Windows 11.

I started downloading Python on my computer but realized I forgot to click the button Add puthon.exe to PATH so I cancelled out of the partially installation by pulling up the task manager and ending the task. I should have just let it install then uninstall it, I know that now. This is my beginners mistake.

Now when I try to re-install python it gives me the error 0x080070652 - Another installation is already in progress. Complete that installation before proceeding with this install. I can’t find the previous install anywhere. I looked in my C drive and I’m not finding it. Here is a screenshot of my C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86). I can’t find

Program Files x86
Program Files x86222×512 3.84 KB

I tried a shut down, regular reboot and clean boot with no luck. I also tried looking for the partially installed program but I can’t find it anywhere. I reached out to Microsoft and here is the directions they gave me (all of which I tried, at the end they send me to you):

Hi Elizabeth.

Thanks for reporting this issue in Microsoft Community.

In your description, the first time you installed Python, you chose to end the installation task because you forgot to click the Add Python.exe to PATH button. Then when you try to reinstall Python, it gets stuck, sometimes with the message “0x080070652 - another installation is already in progress”. Even if you use a clean boot and check the C drive, the previous installation is not found. It is possible that there are residuals from the previous installation. I offer you some options below to solve this problem.

First of all, when your computer prompts “There is another installation in progress”, you can shut down your computer and restart it again, the system will automatically stop and cancel the incomplete installation process. After restarting, please try again to see if the installation is working properly.

Secondly, you can check your installation directory manually, usually the default path is under C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86) directory, if you have already checked it, please ignore this one.

In the meantime, you can download and install the following link and then use Microsoft’s Install and Uninstall Troubleshooter to help you solve the uninstallation or installation problems.

Fix problems that block programs from being installed or removed - Microsoft Support

If the above steps still can’t help you solve the problem, it’s likely that the program that installed Python has modified some registry entries in your computer during the previous installation, which causes the computer to read the registry entries and mistakenly think that you have already installed Python, thus causing the installation to fail again. We don’t know much about the registry related to Python, so we suggest that you post your question in a Python related forum via the link below, where there will be more specialized support staff who will provide you with more targeted help.

Forums | Python.org

Disclaimer: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate and safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

I hope the above can help you, if you have any other questions please continue to contact me, thank you for your support and understanding.

Any help the python community could give me would be greatly appreciated. I think it should be as simple as finding the partially downloaded files, deleting them, then correctly re-downloading python, but I could be completely wrong.

2

Hi,

maybe you can try to remove all saved references to the Python installation.

  1. Open any folder on your computer. On the left hand directory list, click on the Downloads folder.
    There should be the installation executable. Delete it.

  2. On the bottom search bar, type remove. The Add or remove programs app option should appear.

Delete both references.

See if that helps. Then go to python.org and try re-installing as before.

3

What do you mean when you say installed executable. What type of file is that? I’m seeing 3 separate python applications that I have tried downloading in the last 24 hours. The only way for me to delete them is to drag them to the recycle bin. Is that what I should be doing? Thank you for walking me through this. Like I said, I’m normally a mac user so windows is new to me and python is new to me and I’m just learning a lot right now and struggling.

4

Delete ALL of them this way you start from ground zero.
You can also right-click on any one and select the recycle bin icon to delete.

python_exe_installatin_folder

5

Ok, I deleted all of the downloads and tried downloading it again and I’m getting this error:

image
image1432×597 183 KB

Notice how it looks like there are 2 installations of Python running in the task manager apps? When I close out of the one they both close out. I’m not sure if that’s a clue. Thank you for all your help.

6

Did you type remove on the bottom search bar? A list of programs that you have installed on your computer should appear. Delete Python. Make sure it matches the installation dates.

You can also select End task for the ones under the Processes list.

7

I did try that. A list of programs came up and I see PyCharm on there but my understanding is that is different than the Python file I’m trying to download.

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image1052×731 34.3 KB

8

Scroll through the list of installed programs. Is Python IDLE there?

9

Python IDLE is not there. I’m not finding it anywhere.

10

Did you End task for all of the processes highlighting Python IDLE installation? Make sure they no longer appear. Once you have verified this, then re-attempt downloading Python IDLE.

end_tasks

11

Where am I supposed to be ending task for all the processes highlighting Python IDLE installation? Which screen am I supposed to be on? Ctrl Alt Delete then Processes?

12

Ok, that’s exactly what I did and I’m still getting an error message. Let me try it again.

13

Still getting set up failed error. Any other thoughts? I’m so sorry this seems to be so complicated.

14

That is strange. Ok, try rebooting. Then retry.

15

Here’s how to get the Task Manager which shows you which programs are running. The goal is to stop any Python installation programs.

  • Go to the Windows Search bar, mine is at the bottom left. Type in “task”.
  • Click on “Task Manager”. A new Window pops up.
  • Look for Python install programs like @onePythonUser showed you. Those are the installation programs that are still possibly running and causing havoc.
  • I have Windows 10. So if I right click a program/Task I can choose “End Task”. There is normally more than 1 way to do something in Windows.

Have you done that?

My Task Manager shows all these programs running. Notice the title of that window is “Task Manager”.

image
image628×537 26.3 KB

16

Hi Chuck,
Thank you so much for your reply. Yes, I’ve been to the task manager and I’ve ended the Python task many times. This last time I found the temporary files it had started downloading and deleted those too. Then I reboot. Every time I try to open up the Python file to install it I also have the task manager open. I’ve noticed that it always looks like there are 2 installations of Python running when I have only opened it once.

image
image1348×837 82.9 KB

If I try ending one task of them then both of them end and look like they end but when I open the file up again both pop up again and I get an error message saying an installation is already in progress.

17

There are log files I can pull up. Would that help?

18

If memory serves, by default, Python installs to C:\users\<username>\Appdata\Local\Programs\Python\Python<XY>\ where <username> is your Windows username and <XY> is the major and minor Python version.

Have you checked if anything was attempted to be installed in that directory?

19

Keep attempting to End Task. Usually when you keep trying, a window pop-up will appear stating something to the effect of: Program Not Responding, select Close Program (or similar message). Then it will force a kill of the program.

20

I looked there and I can’t find a python folder.