title: Fresh re-install of Anaconda fails - remove all conflicts between Anaconda and the system
body: <p>After ending up breaking my Anaconda environmaent during an update process (issue described <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/55460185/anaconda-cannot-find-packages-when-calling-python-interpreter-from-outside-the/">here</a>), I decided to try to reinstall Anaconda. However, despite hours of research and error seeking, I failed to install Anaconda. </p>
  
  <p><strong>My question is how I could put my system back into a state such that Anaconda does not conflict with my system.</strong> </p>
  
  <p>Find details below.</p>
  
  <p>My steps were as follows:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>I uninstalled Anaconda.</li>
  <li>I downloaded the recent version of Anaconda and installed it. Unfortunately, no executable for the Anaconda prompt was installed, neither did Anaconda appear in the start menu. The issue is partly addressed <a href="http://docs.anaconda.com/anaconda/user-guide/troubleshooting/#cannot-see-anaconda-menu-shortcuts-after-installation-on-windows" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a></li>
  <li>I uninstalled Anaconda and installed Miniconda.</li>
  <li>Miniconda installed successfully. I installed anaconda-clean as suggested <a href="https://www.anaconda.com/who-you-gonna-call-halloween-tips-treats-to-protect-you-from-ghosts-gremlins-and-software-vulnerabilities/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a> and ran it.</li>
  <li>I uninstalled Miniconda and made sure no python installation appeared in PATH.</li>
  <li>I deleted registry keys referring to Python</li>
  <li>I removed all directories from PATH that included files belonging to Qt5</li>
  <li>I checked that neither Python nor Anaconda appear in AppData</li>
  <li>I tried to install Anaconda again, with the same failure as above.</li>
  <li>I uninstalled Anaconda and installed Miniconda.</li>
  <li>I installed anaconda-navigator</li>
  <li>I tried to install Glueviz, but failed</li>
  <li>I removed resulting inconsistencies and installed packages one after the other</li>
  <li>I ran into an issue installing ipykernel, full output below.</li>
  </ul>
  
  <pre><code>(base) C:\Users\Me&gt;conda install ipykernel -v
  Collecting package metadata: ...working... done
  Solving environment: ...working... done
  initializing UnlinkLinkTransaction with
    target_prefix: D:\_Programme\Anaconda3
    unlink_precs:
  
    link_precs:
      defaults::libsodium-1.0.16-h9d3ae62_0
      defaults::zeromq-4.3.1-h33f27b4_3
      defaults::pyzmq-18.0.0-py37ha925a31_0
      defaults::jupyter_client-5.2.4-py37_0
      defaults::ipykernel-5.1.0-py37h39e3cac_0
  
  
  
  ## Package Plan ##
  
    environment location: D:\_Programme\Anaconda3
  
    added / updated specs:
      - ipykernel
  
  
  The following NEW packages will be INSTALLED:
  
    ipykernel          pkgs/main/win-64::ipykernel-5.1.0-py37h39e3cac_0
    jupyter_client     pkgs/main/win-64::jupyter_client-5.2.4-py37_0
    libsodium          pkgs/main/win-64::libsodium-1.0.16-h9d3ae62_0
    pyzmq              pkgs/main/win-64::pyzmq-18.0.0-py37ha925a31_0
    zeromq             pkgs/main/win-64::zeromq-4.3.1-h33f27b4_3
  
  
  Proceed ([y]/n)? y
  
  Preparing transaction: ...working... done
  Verifying transaction: ...working... done
  Executing transaction: ...working... ===&gt; LINKING PACKAGE: defaults::libsodium-1.0.16-h9d3ae62_0 &lt;===
    prefix=D:\_Programme\Anaconda3
    source=D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\pkgs\libsodium-1.0.16-h9d3ae62_0
  
  
  ===&gt; LINKING PACKAGE: defaults::zeromq-4.3.1-h33f27b4_3 &lt;===
    prefix=D:\_Programme\Anaconda3
    source=D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\pkgs\zeromq-4.3.1-h33f27b4_3
  
  
  ===&gt; LINKING PACKAGE: defaults::pyzmq-18.0.0-py37ha925a31_0 &lt;===
    prefix=D:\_Programme\Anaconda3
    source=D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\pkgs\pyzmq-18.0.0-py37ha925a31_0
  
  
  ===&gt; LINKING PACKAGE: defaults::jupyter_client-5.2.4-py37_0 &lt;===
    prefix=D:\_Programme\Anaconda3
    source=D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\pkgs\jupyter_client-5.2.4-py37_0
  
  
  ===&gt; LINKING PACKAGE: defaults::ipykernel-5.1.0-py37h39e3cac_0 &lt;===
    prefix=D:\_Programme\Anaconda3
    source=D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\pkgs\ipykernel-5.1.0-py37h39e3cac_0
  
  
  $ C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe /d /c D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\.tmprx2boc11.bat
  ==&gt; cwd: D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\Scripts &lt;==
  ==&gt; exit code: 1 &lt;==
  ==&gt; stdout &lt;==
  
  ==&gt; stderr &lt;==
  Das System kann den angegebenen Pfad nicht finden.
  Parameterformat falsch - 65001.
  
  
  
  An error occurred while installing package 'defaults::ipykernel-5.1.0-py37h39e3cac_0'.
  LinkError: post-link script failed for package defaults::ipykernel-5.1.0-py37h39e3cac_0
  running your command again with `-v` will provide additional information
  location of failed script: D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\Scripts\.ipykernel-post-link.bat
  ==&gt; script messages &lt;==
  &lt;None&gt;
  
  Attempting to roll back.
  
  
  ===&gt; REVERSING PACKAGE LINK: defaults::ipykernel-5.1.0-py37h39e3cac_0 &lt;===
    prefix=D:\_Programme\Anaconda3
  
  
  failed
  An error occurred while installing package 'defaults::ipykernel-5.1.0-py37h39e3cac_0'.
  LinkError: post-link script failed for package defaults::ipykernel-5.1.0-py37h39e3cac_0
  running your command again with `-v` will provide additional information
  location of failed script: D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\Scripts\.ipykernel-post-link.bat
  ==&gt; script messages &lt;==
  &lt;None&gt;
  
  Attempting to roll back.
  
  
  Rolling back transaction: ...working... ===&gt; REVERSING PACKAGE LINK: defaults::jupyter_client-5.2.4-py37_0 &lt;===
    prefix=D:\_Programme\Anaconda3
  
  
  ===&gt; REVERSING PACKAGE LINK: defaults::pyzmq-18.0.0-py37ha925a31_0 &lt;===
    prefix=D:\_Programme\Anaconda3
  
  
  ===&gt; REVERSING PACKAGE LINK: defaults::zeromq-4.3.1-h33f27b4_3 &lt;===
    prefix=D:\_Programme\Anaconda3
  
  
  ===&gt; REVERSING PACKAGE LINK: defaults::libsodium-1.0.16-h9d3ae62_0 &lt;===
    prefix=D:\_Programme\Anaconda3
  
  
  done
  Traceback (most recent call last):
    File "D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\lib\site-packages\conda\core\link.py", line 1079, in run_script
      subprocess_call(command_args, env=env, path=dirname(path))
    File "D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\lib\site-packages\conda\gateways\subprocess.py", line 85, in subprocess_call
      output=formatted_output)
  subprocess.CalledProcessError: Command '['C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\cmd.exe', '/d', '/c', 'D:\\_Programme\\Anaconda3\\.tmprx2boc11.bat']' returned non-zero exit status 1.
  
  During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:
  
  Traceback (most recent call last):
    File "D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\lib\site-packages\conda\core\link.py", line 649, in _execute_post_link_actions
      activate=True)
    File "D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\lib\site-packages\conda\core\link.py", line 1095, in run_script
      raise LinkError(message)
  conda.exceptions.LinkError: post-link script failed for package defaults::ipykernel-5.1.0-py37h39e3cac_0
  running your command again with `-v` will provide additional information
  location of failed script: D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\Scripts\.ipykernel-post-link.bat
  ==&gt; script messages &lt;==
  &lt;None&gt;
  
  
  During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:
  
  Traceback (most recent call last):
    File "D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\lib\site-packages\conda\core\link.py", line 558, in _execute
      cls._execute_post_link_actions(pkg_idx_tracked, axngroup)
    File "D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\lib\site-packages\conda\core\link.py", line 664, in _execute_post_link_actions
      reverse_excs,
  conda.CondaMultiError: post-link script failed for package defaults::ipykernel-5.1.0-py37h39e3cac_0
  running your command again with `-v` will provide additional information
  location of failed script: D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\Scripts\.ipykernel-post-link.bat
  ==&gt; script messages &lt;==
  &lt;None&gt;
  
  
  
  During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:
  
  Traceback (most recent call last):
    File "D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\lib\site-packages\conda\exceptions.py", line 1003, in __call__
      return func(*args, **kwargs)
    File "D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\lib\site-packages\conda\cli\main.py", line 84, in _main
      exit_code = do_call(args, p)
    File "D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\lib\site-packages\conda\cli\conda_argparse.py", line 82, in do_call
      exit_code = getattr(module, func_name)(args, parser)
    File "D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\lib\site-packages\conda\cli\main_install.py", line 20, in execute
      install(args, parser, 'install')
    File "D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\lib\site-packages\conda\cli\install.py", line 275, in install
      handle_txn(unlink_link_transaction, prefix, args, newenv)
    File "D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\lib\site-packages\conda\cli\install.py", line 304, in handle_txn
      unlink_link_transaction.execute()
    File "D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\lib\site-packages\conda\core\link.py", line 241, in execute
      self._execute(tuple(concat(interleave(itervalues(self.prefix_action_groups)))))
    File "D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\lib\site-packages\conda\core\link.py", line 587, in _execute
      rollback_excs,
  conda.CondaMultiError: post-link script failed for package defaults::ipykernel-5.1.0-py37h39e3cac_0
  running your command again with `-v` will provide additional information
  location of failed script: D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\Scripts\.ipykernel-post-link.bat
  ==&gt; script messages &lt;==
  &lt;None&gt;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>The German part translated to English:</p>
  
  <pre><code>$ C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe /d /c D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\.tmprx2boc11.bat
  ==&gt; cwd: D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\Scripts &lt;==
  ==&gt; exit code: 1 &lt;==
  ==&gt; stdout &lt;==
  
  ==&gt; stderr &lt;==
  Das System kann den angegebenen Pfad nicht finden.
  Parameterformat falsch - 65001.
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>translates to </p>
  
  <pre><code>$ C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe /d /c D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\.tmprx2boc11.bat
  ==&gt; cwd: D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\Scripts &lt;==
  ==&gt; exit code: 1 &lt;==
  ==&gt; stdout &lt;==
  
  ==&gt; stderr &lt;==
  The system cannot find the specified path
  Parameter format is wrong - 65001.
  </code></pre>
  
  <p><a href="https://github.com/ContinuumIO/anaconda-issues/issues/8087" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Here</a> is a long thread discussing this problem. A number of the steps that I undertook to finish my installation were inspired by posts in this thread, but I did not succeed. Note that I posted my question in the linked thread also. I will make sure the answer gets posted here as well, if I get help from the Anaconda developers.</p>
  
  <p>I believe somehow my system must be in a state that hinders me from getting Anaconda installed. All described issues seam to be rather common, but none of the suggested solutions worked for me thus far. I ran out of ideas and <strong>would be interested in a list of steps that I (and other people with the same problem) can undertake to transfer my system in a state that is not conflicting with Anaconda.</strong> </p>
  
  <p>Detailed info on conda:</p>
  
  <pre><code>(base) C:\Users\Me&gt;conda info
  
       active environment : base
      active env location : D:\_Programme\Anaconda3
              shell level : 1
         user config file : C:\Users\Me\.condarc
   populated config files : C:\Users\Me\.condarc
            conda version : 4.6.9
      conda-build version : not installed
           python version : 3.7.1.final.0
         base environment : D:\_Programme\Anaconda3  (writable)
             channel URLs : https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/main/win-64
                            https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/main/noarch
                            https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/free/win-64
                            https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/free/noarch
                            https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/r/win-64
                            https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/r/noarch
                            https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/msys2/win-64
                            https://repo.anaconda.com/pkgs/msys2/noarch
            package cache : D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\pkgs
                            C:\Users\Me\.conda\pkgs
                            C:\Users\Me\AppData\Local\conda\conda\pkgs
         envs directories : D:\_Programme\Anaconda3\envs
                            C:\Users\Me\.conda\envs
                            C:\Users\Me\AppData\Local\conda\conda\envs
                 platform : win-64
               user-agent : conda/4.6.9 requests/2.21.0 CPython/3.7.1 Windows/10 Windows/10.0.17134
            administrator : False
               netrc file : None
             offline mode : False
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I am working on 64bit Windows 10.</p>