“python” not recognized as a command

Question

I just downloaded and installed Python 2.7.2 to my laptop and I am trying to run some sample programs. My laptop is running Windows XP.

When I open a cmd

Answer 1

Just another clarification for those starting out. When you add C:\PythonXX to your path, make sure there are NO SPACES between variables e.g.

This:

SomeOtherDirectory;C:\Python27

Not this:

SomeOtherDirectory; C:\Python27

That took me a good 15 minutes of headache to figure out (I'm on windows 7, might be OS dependent). Happy coding.