[moderator note: the quick fix is to update to the latest Anki version]
Hi,
I recently got a new computer and tried to install Anki 2.1.29 for desktop, but got the error Error loading Python DLL. I have never had an issue installing Anki before.
When looking at the Install problems section of the site, it says to make sure the latest version of Windows is installed, but I have the latest version (10.0.19041). I noticed that it says if the issue persists to install two updates, https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=48234 and https://aka.ms/vs/15/release/vc_redist.x64.exe. However, it doesnât seem like this update is right for my computer since I have Windows 10 and the description says âWindows desktop applications that depend on the Windows 10 Universal CRT release to run on Windows Vista SP2, Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 S14â
When trying to install on another computer with Windows 10, I got some error about a driver, but then oddly it worked seemed to work on that computer after.
I also tried getting the previous version on my computer, 2.1.26, but when going trying to use Anki, it says my profile requires a newer version, so I thought it might be bad to use this version.
Basically, I am having trouble getting Anki working on my new computer, but am nervous to try those recommended downloads. Any help would be much appreciated. Thank you!
This is just a guess, but yes, if you donât have Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2019 Redistributable (x64) installed (vc_redist.x64.exe), try to install it and restart your PC. Maybe install it from this link, it seems to be a bit newer.
When I try to start Anki, I receive the following error message:
âError loading Python DLL
âC:\Program Files\Anki\python38.dllâ.â
I tried following the instructions on Ankiâs homepage for addressing this error message: I updated Windows (to Version 10.0.19041), I installed Windows 10 Universal CRT, and I tried installing Microsoft Visual C++ 2017, but I already have Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2019 installed (version 14.24.28127), so 2017 would not install.
Finally, I tried to uninstall and reinstall Anki. Right-clicking Anki in the Start menu and selecting âuninstallâ takes me to Settings->Add/Remove Programs, but Anki does not appear in that list of programs (I previously hid Anki from the list, and donât know how to make it visible again). So I canât uninstall.
Iâm not sure if itâll make any difference, but my version is a bit newer (14.26.28720.3) and maybe try to install Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2019 Redistributable (x64) again from this link.
For some reason, neither âuninstall.exeâ nor âpython38.dllâ appear in C:\Program Files\Anki.
I installed the newer version of Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (x64) from your link, kelciour, but the problem persisted.
I installed the alternate version of Anki, and that is working, which is great. I would still appreciate any suggestions for getting the normal version working, since there are some feature differences that I am missing from the normal version.
Try to install the standard version again, maybe in a different folder, since the alternate version is working. Anki will only overwrite the default shortcut icon on Desktop to point to the latest installed Anki version. The folder should contain python38.dll.
If it happens again and python38.dll canât be found, python38.dll can be copied manually from anki-2.1.29-windows.exe by installling 7-Zip and using 7-Zip File Manager to open .exe file as archive.
If you have any antivirus installed aside from Windows Defender, maybe python38.dll was deleted by it. If this is the case, maybe itâs no good and itâd be better to uninstall the antivirus.
Or maybe the installation process was interruped, but I donât know how it could have happened.
I had the same problem, I couldnât not uninstall Anki or find the uninstall.exe.
When you used the alternate version, did it ask you to downgrade? When I try using it says âThis profile requires a newer version of Anki to open. Did you forget to use the Downgrade button prior to switching Anki versions?â
I donât mind downgrading as long as it doesnât affect my profile/decks.
Thank you for the help, I will try downloading it. I did install the alternate Anki version, but it says when I try using it says âThis profile requires a newer version of Anki to open. Did you forget to use the Downgrade button prior to switching Anki versions?â
I donât mind downgrading as long as it doesnât affect my profile/decks. Do you know if this will cause any issues?
The Downgrade button usually is only necessary if you switch to the previous Anki version, e.g. install Anki 2.1.29 or 2.1.26 and would like to open your profile with the previous version, e.g. Anki 2.1.26 or 2.1.22.
After using the latest version, if you wish to open your collection with an earlier Anki release, please go to the File>Switch Profile menu item, and click on âDowngrade & Quitâ. If you skip this step, you may get an error message when opening your collection in an older Anki version, and you will need to return to this version, downgrade, then try again.
Everything works fine for me and I can open the same Anki profile if I switch between the standard and alternate Anki 2.1.29 versions after installing them into 2 different folders, but if I try to open it with Anki 2.1.26 without using the Downgrade button I get the same message ("Did you forget to use the Downgrade button prior to switching Anki versions?â).
I have been using this- tool to edit a presentation and it was working perfectly. All of a sudden it stopped saving, froze and then I got the error - Error Code: 0x40000001