WindowsError: [Error 193] %1 is not a valid Win32 application in Python
Question: I wish to import [liblas](http://www.liblas.org/tutorial/python.html) module
in Python 2.7 on window 64bit. If I import the module with IDLE (Python GUI) I
have no problem.

If I use
[PyScripter](https://code.google.com/p/pyscripter/downloads/detail?name=PyScripter-v2.5.3-x64-Setup.exe&can=2&q=)
"PyScripter-v2.5.3-x64-Setup.exe" I get this error message.

    
    
    >>> import liblas
    Traceback (most recent call last):
      File "<interactive input>", line 1, in <module>
      File "C:\Python27\lib\site-packages\liblas\__init__.py", line 2, in <module>
        from core import get_version
      File "C:\Python27\lib\site-packages\liblas\core.py", line 138, in <module>
        las = ctypes.CDLL(os.path.join(local_dlls, lib_name))
      File "C:\Python27\Lib\ctypes\__init__.py", line 365, in __init__
        self._handle = _dlopen(self._name, mode)
    WindowsError: [Error 193] %1 is not a valid Win32 application
    

I have used liblas in PyScripter many times without problem and right now I
can load all standard modules (e.g.: numpy, GDAL, etc.), but tonight (I need
to finish an analysis!!!) I have this inconvenience.


Answer: Please make sure to have Python 2.7 64b edition :) or even though you are
working on 64b OS, use the x86 (AKA 32b) edition of PyScripter

**Edit 1 (following comments exchange w/ Gianni)**

One should verify his/her _entire_ Python process "composed" from same
entities in the sense of 32b/64b builds (e.g. if your Python interpreter is
32b one, then it must use C types coming from C dll Python extensions which
were compiled as 32b dlls).

In our example (liblas) one should go to `C:\Python27\lib\site-
packages\liblas` , find the extension dll and see its type via
[dumpbin](http://www.mohid.com/wiki/index.php?title=Dumpbin) , here is some
picture for demonstration :

![enter image description here](http://i.stack.imgur.com/yKWpD.jpg)

