Using conda on Windows XP with or without a proxy

Although Windows XP mainstream support and Extended Support from Microsoft have ended, and Windows XP is no longer one of the target systems supported by Anaconda, some users have had success using Anaconda on Windows XP with the methods described on this page.

Anaconda 2.3.0 is the last version of Python 3-based Anaconda to support Windows XP. Anaconda 2.4 and later have a version of Python 3 built with Visual Studio 2015, which by default does not support Windows XP.

You can install Anaconda 2.3.0 and then update it with conda update conda and conda update --all. Download Anaconda3-2.3.0-Windows-x86.exe at https://repo.anaconda.com/archive/. Install it in any location, such as C:\Anaconda.

Using a proxy with Windows XP

To configure conda for use behind a corporate proxy that uses proxy auto-config (PAC) files and SSL certificates for secure connections:

  1. Find a proxy server address from the PAC file:

    1. Open Internet Explorer.

    2. From the Tools menu, select Internet Options, and then click the Connections tab.

    3. On the Connections tab, click the LAN Settings button.

    4. In the LAN Settings dialog box, copy the address under the Use automatic configuration script checkbox.

    5. Click the Cancel button to close the LAN settings.

    6. Click the Cancel button to close the Internet Options.

    7. Paste the address into the Internet Explorer address bar, then press the Enter key.

    8. In the PAC file that opens, search for return until you find what looks like a proxy IP or DNS address with the port number, which may take some time in a long file.

    9. Copy the address and port number.

  2. Follow the .condarc instructions to create a file named .condarc in your home directory or the installation directory, such as C:\Anaconda\.condarc.

  3. Follow the .condarc proxy server instructions to add proxy information to the .condarc file.

If you decide to include any passwords, be aware of transformations that can affect special characters.

EXAMPLE: This example shows proxy information with passwords:

proxy_servers:
  http: http://user:pass@corp.com:8080
  https: https://user:pass@corp.com:8080

ssl_verify: False

If you include proxy information without passwords, you will be asked to answer authentication prompts at the command line.

EXAMPLE: This example shows proxy information without passwords:

proxy_servers:
  http: http://corp.com:8080
  https: https://corp.com:8080

ssl_verify: False

Once the proxy is configured, you can run conda update conda and then create and manage environments with the Anaconda Navigator.

Some packages such as flask-login may not be available through conda, so you may need to use pip to install them:

  1. To use pip securely over https:

    pip install --trusted-host pypi.python.org package-name

  2. If the secure https proxy fails, you can force pip to use an insecure http proxy instead:

    pip install --index-url=http://pypi.python.org/simple/ --trusted-host pypi.python.org package-name