pip/easy_install failure: failed to create process

Question

After following this article: How do I install pip on Windows? on my Windows system using Enthought Canopy 64 Bit system, I cannot get pip or easy_install to work due to error:

pip install requests
failed to create process

I tried re-installing setuptools, running cmd prompt as admin without any effect.

Answer 1

I just use python in the command shell on Windows 7 and had this problem immediately after installing pip. In case the above solutions don't help you, you should check that the folder that pip.exe is installed in (in my case, the Script folder under Python32) is in the Path.

Answer 2

It will help after changing the PATH to python in environment variables:

python -m pip install --upgrade pip --force-reinstall

Answer 3

Running command prompt with administrator privileges worked for me.

Answer 4

I ran into this bug while installing an older version of Python (3.5.2) for compatibility with some aws-adfs scripting. I installed aws-adfs with pip, on Windows 10, and found that while Python is installed to a directory path with spaces in it you will get the failed to create process error.

The pip maintainers say that it was a deeper problem with setuptools and even offered a workaround if you want to patch the installation in place.

But another, easier solution if you're working with older versions of Python is just to reinstall Python to a directory without spaces.

Answer 5

When I encountered this, it was because I'd manually renamed the directory python was in. This meant that both setuptools and pip had to be reinstalled. Or, I had to manually rename the python directory to what it had been previously.

Answer 6

To fix this error (after you change the folder where python is installed) run force-reinstall for pip and pyinstaller, like this:

python -m pip install --upgrade pip --force-reinstall

python -m pip install --upgrade pyinstaller --force-reinstall