My computer is a gateway using win7 with AMD Dual Core II X2 240 ~2.8 ghz, 4 gigs of ram, DX11, 500 gig hdd (can't find the manufacturer).  The whole computer is a touch screen bought from bestbuy.  I use the computer for home and work.  My question is about installing python (from learnpythonthehardway.org).

The question is specifically how to run python from the cmd prompt (installed in c:\python27), how to make a directory (mkdir?), change a directory (cd...doesn't work for me, I know I'm doing it wrong somehow) and how to create a file in it.  Here are the directions (sorry for the block of TEXT):

Find your "Terminal" program. It's called Command Prompt. Alternatively just run cmd.
Make a shortcut to it on your desktop and/or Quick Launch for your convenience.
Run your Terminal program. It won't look like much.
In your Terminal program, run python. You run things in Terminal by just typing their name and hitting RETURN.
If you run python and it's not there (python is not recognized..). Install it from http://python.org/download
Make sure you install Python 2 not Python 3.
You may be better off with ActiveState Python especially when you miss Administrative rights
Hit CTRL-Z (^Z), Enter and get out of python.
You should be back at a prompt SIMILAR to what you had before you typed python. If not find out why.
Learn how to make a directory in the Terminal. Search online for help.
Learn how to change into a directory in the Terminal. Again search online.
Use your editor to create a file in this directory. Make the file, "Save" or "Save As...", and pick this directory.
Go back to Terminal using just the keyboard to switch WINDOWS. Look it up if you can't FIGURE it out.
Back in Terminal, see if you can list the directory to see your newly created file. Search online for how to list a directory.

I have python 2 installed in the afore mentioned directory.  That is as far as I got.  I am sure there are some shortcuts I could take to just start coding, but this is my first time, and I want to be as thorough as possible.  When I run cmd, I am lead to c:\users\blahblahmycomputername>

I try to change directory to c:\Python27, and "the system can not find the path specified" appears.  DIR works, and I can fish around in favorites etc all the things in normal \users, but nothing more.  I'm sorry for these probably simple and easy to figure out questions, but I've spend over 2 hours trying to figure it out on this site, and I'm nearing a wits end.  Any assistance is appreciated

shairgjI figured it out.  Thank you for having this forum/site, I found the solution finally.  Capitalization matters?  Oh my stars.In some cases it does...

Sorry that's the best Pun i could come up with at the time... Quote from: shairgj on October 25, 2011, 03:45:08 PM

Capitalization matters?