Fatal error in launcher: Unable to create process using '"d:\bld\spacy_1612273806936\_h_env\python.exe"

[rgoubet]

On a miniconda installation with spaCy installed from conda-forge, I'm getting the following error message when running spacy to download a model:

>spacy
Fatal error in launcher: Unable to create process using '"d:\bld\spacy_1612273806936\_h_env\python.exe"  "c:\Users\user\Miniconda3\Scripts\spacy.exe" ': The system cannot find the file specified.

I can't reproduce this on other PC's, either Windows or Linux.

[adrianeboyd]

Hi, if you can't reproduce it on other systems, it sounds like it might be problem with the conda installation or environment rather than with spacy itself? You can see if calling python -m spacy works an alternative or try installing spacy in a new/clean conda env?

[rgoubet]

I tried with a new environment, but had the same error. On the other hand, using python -m spacy works. I was mostly confused by the reference to the path "d:\bld\spacy_1612441984352\_h_env\python.exe", which doesn't even exist on my system.

[pl-marasco]

I know that this is a really old post but for the others that eventually will land here as I did.

I had a similar issue with another module (black) under a windows 10 miniconda env. I got a really similar error as you described.
Fortunatelly I found somewhere that a possible solution for that specific problem can be to install the module once the administrator prompt has been activated. In my case, it has resolved the issue.

[svlandeg]

That's definitely weird. But it's good to hear that the workaround with python -m spacy works!