need to clean up your windows environment variables on windows you can start typing "environment variablesin the programs search field and select edit environ ment variables for your account on windows xpyou will have to go to control panel system advanced environment variables on the window that pops upyou are looking for the path variable it needs to contain the following two directory pathsseparated by semicolonsc:\python ; :\python \scripts if you installed other versions of pythonbe sure to delete any other python-related directories from both the system and user path variables after making path alternationyou have to restart the command prompt for the changes to take effect once you can launch python successfully from the command promptyou need to install pandas the easiest way is to download the appropriate binary installer from correctly by importing pandas and making simple matplotlib plotc:\users\wes>ipython --pylab python |epd_free ( -bit)type "copyright""creditsor "licensefor more information ipython -an enhanced interactive python -introduction and overview of ipython' features %quickref -quick reference help -python' own help system object-details about 'object'use 'object??for extra details welcome to pylaba matplotlib-based python environment [backendwxaggfor more informationtype 'help(pylab)in [ ]import pandas in [ ]plot(arange( )if successfulthere should be no error messages and plot window will appear you can also check that the ipython html notebook can be successfully run by typingipython notebook --pylab=inline if you use the ipython notebook application on windows and normally use internet exploreryou will likely need to install and run mozilla firefox or google chrome instead epdfree on windows contains only -bit executables if you want or need -bit setup on windowsusing epd full is the most painless way to accomplish that if you would rather install from scratch and not pay for an epd subscriptionchristoph gohlke at the university of californiairvinepublishes unofficial binary installers for preliminaries www it-ebooks info