title: Installing Pandas for Python 2.7 64 bit - Error unable to find vcvarsall.bat
body: <p>I am trying to install the pandas module. I tried an installer before but when importing I got some cryptic errors. I read that using pip is the recommended way to install packages. </p>
  
  <p>When I use <code>pip install pandas</code> it manages to install pandas, dateultils and another package but when it arrives to numpy it exits with the error <code>"Unable to find vcvarsall.bat"</code>. </p>
  
  <p>Of course, I searched for this problem which seems to be very common. However, none of the solution listed (several and not very clear/consistent worked). I have a Visual Studio 8 folder in program files. I also installed VS 2012 express which added a Visual Studio 11 folder. The only vcvarsall.bat that I found is in <code>C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 11.0\VC</code>.</p>
  
  <p>I added that folder to the path to no avail. I also installed mingw and added <code>c:mingw/bin</code> to the path. Nothing. I have a distutils.cfg with the <code>compiler=mingw32</code> set already. I did not create it or modified it. It was already there. It puzzles me because my python dist and all modules should be 64 bit. I have a EPD python built on this laptop. I run Win8 that I read seems to be harder to manage.</p>
  
  <p>There seem to be several ways but none is exactly clear and the above did not work for me at all.</p>
  
  <p>Please, if you know how to help, write a step-by-step way to and explain the rationale behind it. For example, in other threads, people suggest to add this variable or another one, or this to the path, or that, and it's not clear why and it seems to depend on a particular system. I am not sure what I should do indeed.</p>
  
  <p>Thanks!</p>