How to Install Python for Windows

Choose a Python Installation
1. Identify the version of Windows running on your PC. You’ll need to know whether you are running Windows 95, 98, NT, 2000, ME, XP, Vista or Windows 7.
2. Decide whether you will need the Python source code. Installing the source is optional. Python is open source software, which means the code is readily available to programmers to modify or distribute as they wish.
3. Browse to the Python.org website. All official distributions of Python can be found here, including a Windows .msi installer.
4. Click on the 'Download' link. A list of files appears. Each file is a distribution of Python for a specific platform.
5. Find the installer for your platform. Numerous versions of Python are available for Windows environments. If you are unable to determine the Windows version installed on your PC, download the standard binary installer.
6. Choose the 'Python Windows Installer' link for a standard environment, the 'Python AMD64 Installer' for computers running 64-bit Windows or the 'Python Windows Itanium Installer' for Intel Itanium computers.
7. Click the download link. You can either download the file and then run it, or run it automatically. It's advisable to download the file so you’ll have a copy for future use.
Run the Installer
8. Run the installer, if you didn't run it automatically from the download dialog. Find the .msi file using Windows explorer and run it. An installer program will open. Click 'Install for All Users' and then click 'Next.'
9. Choose an installation directory for Python. The default – 'C:\Python25' – is recommended, as situations may arise when it will be useful for you to type the full path to the python interpreter from the command line. A short directory name on the C:\ drive is easier to type.
10. Choose the features you want to install and click 'Next' to start the installation. Wait a few minutes for the process to be completed. Once Python has been installed, click 'Finish' to close the installer.
11. Click 'Programs,” “Python 2.5” and then “Python” from the Windows Start menu to test Python. A black-and-white window will open with an interactive Python command prompt. After you’ve confirmed that Python is correctly installed, close the command prompt window.
12. Open a command prompt by clicking “Start” and then “Run.” When the dialog opens, type 'cmd' into the search box and press “OK.” Running Python programs from the command line is a useful way to see output and pass parameters.
13. Change to your Python directory. If you accepted the default Python directory, type 'cd C:\Python25' into the command prompt and press “Enter.” If you installed elsewhere, change 'C:\Python25' to the installation folder. Type 'python' and press “Enter” to start the Python command line prompt.