I am attempting to install PyCrypto under Windows 7, 64 bit.
I downloaded and installed ActiveState's Python 2.7.10.12, 64 bit, without issue. The interactive shell appears to work fine.
Next, I went to VoidSpace and downloaded PyCrypto 2.6 for Python 2.7 64bit (pycrypto-2.6.win-amd64-py2.7.exe). I ran it and accepted the default folders and clicked “Next” twice, after which it crashed with the following message from Windows:
pycrypto-2.6.win-amd64-py2.7.exe has stopped working
and no other information.
I downloaded the file again and rebooted the computer and got the same result several times.
How can I figure out why it won’t install and what to do about it?
Okay, I did some more digging and found the problem, which is:
The installation file has to be "Run as administrator."
In other words, right click the file name and select "Run as administrator."
It's as simple as that.
Here's what I did to figure that out:
Looking at the StackOverflow post, How do I install PyCrypto on Windows?, I noticed some suggestions to run the installation file using easy_install, so I tried that. (easy_install is in the Python27\Scripts folder.) That gave me a long error message, which said something about signing in as an administrator. I am the administrator, but this gave me the idea that maybe the file wants to run as an administrator. So I tried that and Voila! The installation proceeded to completion.
I don’t know if there’s a reason that I had to do that and other people don’t have to. I've sent an e-mail to Michael at VoidSpace suggesting that he add a note near the download links suggesting that it be run that way.