Both Python 2.5.2 and 2.7.2 flop the same way under Win 7

[W. eWatson]

On 11/17/2011 12:59 PM, MRAB wrote:
> On 17/11/2011 20:31, W. eWatson wrote:
>> On 11/17/2011 9:39 AM, John Gordon wrote:
>>> In<ja3eae$rr$1 at dont-email.me> "W. eWatson"<wolftracks at invalid.com>
>>> writes:
>>>
>>>> Months ago 2.5.2 stopped functioning on my Win7 PC, so a few days ago I
>>>> uninstalled and installed. Same problem. If one right-clicks on a py
>>>> file, IDLE is not shown in the menu as Edit with IDLE. After playing
>>>> with matters I gave up, and uninstalled 2.5.2 and turned to 2.7.2. Same
>>>> results.
>>>
>>> I'm not sure I'd describe the lack of IDLE in a context menu as
>>> "python not functioning".
>> Well, yes, and I can run it from the command line.
>>>
>>>> If I look at a 2.4 install on my laptop, I get the desired reference to
>>>> Edit with IDLE.
>>>
>>>> My guess is that Win 7 is behind this. If so, it's good-bye Python.
>> This has been a nagging problem for far too long. I see no reason why a
>> simple install should make such a difference with the way I get to IDLE.
>> Maybe few people here like IDLE, but for my minimal needs, it's just
>> fine.
>>
>>>
>>> It was working originally, right? So the problem can't really just be
>>> Win 7.
>> I installed it about April 2010, and it worked for months. I then
>> stopped using it until around July 2011. It no longer worked in the IDLE
>> sense.
>>
>> Who really knows?
>>
>>>
>>> Can you add IDLE manually to the associated applications list?
>>>
>> Tried that by sending it directly to idle.pyw, but then trying to get
>> there through the Edit with menu caused a "invalid Win32 app."
>
> Are you trying to associate .pyw with idle.pyw instead of with
> pythonw.exe?
What does pythonw.exe do for me? I would think all associations would be 
correct after an install.

The single thing I do not understand is why in my latest install of 
2.5.2 and 2.7.2 (2.5.2 was uninstalled before going to 2.7.2) on Win7 
that why a right-click on a py file does not show as a choice is "Edit 
with IDLE", as it does on my XP PC and my 2010 install of 2.5.2 on this 
Win 7 PC. To me that signals that something is wrong.