import matplotlib._png as _png Import: Error: DLL load failed: The specified module could not be found

Question

I use the Anaconda Python distribution: Python 2.7 x64 with Windows 7 SP1 x64 Ultimate.

When I do import matplotlib.pyplot I get ImportError: DLL load

Answer 1

The SciPy stack which came by default with Anaconda was corrupted in my case.

conda and pip are two different package managers which you can use to install python packages. conda can install various packages, it installs python itself as a package. pip caters to python users.

The conda packages were corrupted, so removing that package, which came by default, and installing it again using pip worked for me.

Try the following:

1. Create a new environment

This step is performed only as a safety measure. You can skip this step.

Open Anaconda prompt and

conda create --name testtrial python=3  //install whichever version of Python you want 
activate testtrial

2. Removing and installing new packages

conda remove matplotlib //required only if you skipped the first step and are working in the default(root) environment 
pip install matplotlib

That should solve the problem.

---

A quick guide on working with conda.