Re: [Discuss-gnuradio] Successful installation of GNURadio 3.6.4.1 on Window XP and Windows 8

[Tom Rondeau]

On Fri, Jan 10, 2014 at 3:49 AM, Bhaskar11 <address@hidden> wrote:
> Hi Tom,
>
> Thanks for the suggestion! I have updated the wiki by adding a link to the
> email thread. :)

Great, thanks!

> But I wonder if it it appropriate to include the instructions directly in
> the wiki? I will be happy to do it and update it as and when I have anything
> to add. I just need to know if there is are guidelines for this sort of
> thing, or whether I can ask someone who oversees the overall wiki content.
>
> B

Yes, I think having the build instructions as part of the wiki is a
good idea. I was thinking of doing so with your email, but because of
my lack of Windows foo, I thought it safer just to point to the email
thread.

The only guidelines we have with the wiki is to keep is clean and
clear. That might mean making a new page with your set of
instructions. That would also help because your new page could be
specifically tied to a version of Windows and GNU Radio that
successfully worked as opposed to claiming complete generic
compatibility.

Thanks!

Tom



> On Thu, Jan 9, 2014 at 10:10 PM, Tom Rondeau <address@hidden> wrote:
>>
>> On Mon, Jan 6, 2014 at 9:19 AM, Bhaskar11 <address@hidden> wrote:
>> > Hi Tom,
>> >
>> > 1. Thanks for adding the link in the WindowsInstall wiki.
>> >
>> > I note that the link has been added in the section on "Building on
>> > Windows
>> > with Native Tools" where it is surely relevant for the dependencies that
>> > I
>> > discovered.
>> >
>> > But my instructions are intended for installing with pre-built binaries,
>> > and
>> > are mainly aimed at users who are *not* able to build natively, and so
>> > would
>> > never look under that section.
>> >
>> > For such users it will be very useful if you can add a link in the
>> > "Pre-built Binaries" section right where the link to the Ettus Research
>> > site
>> > is made. It can be added as an update or a caveat to the Ettus
>> > instructions
>> > link.
>> >
>> > 2. As an addendum to my main post, I have found that only one UHD driver
>> > works correctly with GRC 3.6.4.1. under Windows XP and Windows 8. And
>> > that
>> > is version 3.5.0 (file name "uhd_003.005.000-release_Win32") available
>> > from
>> > here.
>> >
>> > I will share a more detailed update on the UHD driver compatibility and
>> > error messages in a separate post. But I have included this info here
>> > for
>> > completeness of this thread.
>> >
>> > B
>>
>> Bhaskar,
>>
>> Once again, thanks for your help. With the gnuradio.org wiki, you
>> know, anyone can get an account and edit the wiki, so with someone
>> like you who's actually been through this process, it'd be great if
>> you could make these changes yourself to help keep us all honest and
>> up to date!
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Tom
>>
>>
>>
>> > On Mon, Dec 30, 2013 at 9:29 PM, Tom Rondeau <address@hidden> wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Bhaskar,
>> >>
>> >> Thanks for your effort on not only getting GNU Radio working on
>> >> Windows but also providing us with the steps you took to get there.
>> >> That could be really helpful to a lot of people. I have made a link on
>> >> our WindowsInstall wiki to point to your email for other people
>> >> looking for help.
>> >>
>> >> Please note, though, that we've tried to make it very clear that
>> >> Windows is not a fully supported OS. None of the core developers can
>> >> really test and build on Windows, and we rely on patches and feedback
>> >> like you've provided from the community. We do our best to keep things
>> >> working cross-platform, but as you've experienced, as versions change
>> >> (both GNU Radio and it's dependencies), this is a serious project.
>> >>
>> >> Tom
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On Thu, Dec 26, 2013 at 11:10 AM, Bhaskar11 <address@hidden>
>> >> wrote:
>> >> > After much experimentation I have finally found a way to successfully
>> >> > install and fully run GRC 3.6.4.1 both under Windows XP and Windows
>> >> > 8. I
>> >> > presume it should therefore work equally well under Vista and 7.
>> >> >
>> >> > First a few comments on the common causes of problems that most
>> >> > people
>> >> > have
>> >> > had:
>> >> >
>> >> > a. It is critical to have the correct *matching* and *complete*
>> >> > versions
>> >> > of
>> >> > the various required libraries. Most installations instructions
>> >> > online
>> >> > fail
>> >> > because of this reason. The Ettus installation instructions
>> >> > officially
>> >> > recommended on GNURadio website and provided here fail now because
>> >> > many
>> >> > of
>> >> > the original binary versions referred to are no longer available.
>> >> > Hence
>> >> > those instructions are now outdated and should be replaced by the
>> >> > instructions provided in this email.
>> >> >
>> >> > b. Although it is possible to successfully install GNURadio binaries
>> >> > for
>> >> > versions 3.7.x, none of them include runtime DLLs for WX GUI blocks.
>> >> > Hence
>> >> > these blocks are not displayed, and so most of the example files
>> >> > available
>> >> > cannot be used as they need WX GUI blocks. Moreover, some of the QT
>> >> > GUI
>> >> > blocks do not work in certain versions. Since I do not know how to
>> >> > make
>> >> > these binaries, I request those who have created these version 3.7.x
>> >> > Windows
>> >> > binaries to repack them so that we can run the latest versions of
>> >> > GNURadio
>> >> > in Windows. Until that is done, there is no point trying to install
>> >> > those
>> >> > versions.
>> >> >
>> >> > c. Only GNURadio version 3.6.x binaries have WX GUI blocks. But
>> >> > versions
>> >> > 3.6.2 does not allow moving the blocks. Only 3.6.4.1 is usable, and
>> >> > works
>> >> > perfectly well for all available examples tested so far including all
>> >> > QT
>> >> > GUI
>> >> > and WX GUI blocks.
>> >> >
>> >> > d. The required Python libraries versions are available only for
>> >> > Python
>> >> > version 2.7.3 and are NOT all available for versions 2.7.6 or above,
>> >> > or
>> >> > at
>> >> > least I could not find them online. Hence we have to use libraries
>> >> > compatible only with Python 2.7.3.
>> >> >
>> >> > e. Some library versions have their quirks or bugs. For example PyGTK
>> >> > 2.24.0
>> >> > does not allow you to add blocks in GRC. Only version PyGTK 2.24.2
>> >> > works
>> >> > ok.
>> >> > Also wxPython binary called "wxPython2.8-win32-unicode-2.8.12.1-py27"
>> >> > just
>> >> > does not work, but the same version but different binary called
>> >> > "wxPython-2.8.12.1.win32-py2.7" works correctly. Most online
>> >> > instructions do
>> >> > not mention the need for "wxPython-common" library, which is
>> >> > absolutely
>> >> > necessary. Also some odd problems such as this cease to exist when
>> >> > the
>> >> > correct libraries are matched.
>> >> >
>> >> > f. In the instructions below I have listed all the correct working
>> >> > libraries
>> >> > and binaries with links from which to download them. Please use only
>> >> > the
>> >> > binaries from these links and install them in the sequence provided.
>> >> > Other
>> >> > versions or binaries may not work. Keep all default options unless
>> >> > otherwise
>> >> > specified here. If you have problems working with the instructions
>> >> > below,
>> >> > check your binaries, and ensure that you are doing a clean install.
>> >> >
>> >> > Finally, please share your experiences with success and failures on
>> >> > this
>> >> > list so that others may benefit.
>> >> >
>> >> > Instructions to install GNURadio in Windows XP and Windows 8:
>> >> >
>> >> > 1. Uninstall all earlier installations and libraries of GNURadio and
>> >> > Python
>> >> > and their add-ons. Ensure that the GNURadio directory and Python
>> >> > directory
>> >> > are entirely removed by the uninstalls.
>> >> > For Windows XP GNURadio default directory is: C:\Program
>> >> > Files\gnuradio
>> >> > For Windows 8 it is: C:\Program Files (x86)\gnuradio
>> >> > For all platforms the Python default directory is: C:\Python27
>> >> > Both the GNURadio and Python directories should be non-existent. If
>> >> > they
>> >> > still exist, then delete them and reboot. We want as clean an install
>> >> > as
>> >> > possible.
>> >> >
>> >> > 2. Download "Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86)"
>> >> > from
>> >> > here and install "vcredist_x86".
>> >> > If it says a copy is already installed and offers to repair it, and
>> >> > accept
>> >> > to repair. If it says a later version is already installed, then
>> >> > accept
>> >> > to
>> >> > close.
>> >> >
>> >> > 3. Download and install "python-2.7.3.msi" from here.
>> >> >
>> >> > 4. Download and install "lxml-3.0.2.win32-py2.7" from here.
>> >> >
>> >> > 5. Download and install "numpy-1.7.1-win32-superpack-python2.7" from
>> >> > here.
>> >> >
>> >> > 6. Download and install "PyQt-Py2.7-x86-gpl-4.9.6-1" from here.
>> >> > (Note: Keep all default options. You do NOT need to change anything.)
>> >> >
>> >> > 7. Download and install "PyQwt-5.2.1-py2.7-x32-pyqt4.9.6-numpy1.7.1"
>> >> > from
>> >> > here.
>> >> >
>> >> > 8. Download and install "Cheetah-2.4.4.win32-py2.7" from here.
>> >> >
>> >> > 9. Download and install "PyOpenGL-3.1.0a1.win32-py2.7" from here.
>> >> >
>> >> > 10. Download and install "pygtk-all-in-one-2.24.2.win32-py2.7" from
>> >> > here.
>> >> >
>> >> > 11. Download and install "wxPython-2.8.12.1.win32-py2.7" from here.
>> >> > On Windows 8 you may get: Runtime error R6034 "An application has
>> >> > made
>> >> > an
>> >> > attempt to load the C runtime library incorrectly. Please contact the
>> >> > application's support team for more information." Ignore the message
>> >> > and
>> >> > continue.
>> >> >
>> >> > 12. Download and install "wxPython-common-2.8.12.1.win32-py2.7" from
>> >> > here.
>> >> > On Windows 8 you may get: Runtime error R6034 "An application has
>> >> > made
>> >> > an
>> >> > attempt to load the C runtime library incorrectly. Please contact the
>> >> > application's support team for more information." Ignore the message
>> >> > and
>> >> > continue.
>> >> >
>> >> > 13. Download and install "gnuradio_3.6.4.1_Win32" (stable version)
>> >> > from
>> >> > here.
>> >> > Select the option to "Add gnuradio to the system path for all users".
>> >> >
>> >> > On Windows 8 you may receive "Warning! PATH too long installer unable
>> >> > to
>> >> > modify PATH!" which seems to be a NSIS installer problem when it
>> >> > finds
>> >> > the
>> >> > total path to be longer than 1024. If you receive this message then
>> >> > you
>> >> > must
>> >> > manually add the installation bin directory to the system path.
>> >> > For Windows XP the PATH variable must include: "C:\Program
>> >> > Files\gnuradio\bin;"
>> >> > For Windows 8 the PATH must include: "C:\Program Files
>> >> > (x86)\gnuradio\bin;"
>> >> > The string can be added to the beginning of the PATH to ensure it
>> >> > gets
>> >> > priority. In any case manually verify that the Path has been
>> >> > correctly
>> >> > set
>> >> > as above whether by the installer or by you.
>> >> >
>> >> > 15. Manually add the PYTHONPATH environment variable.
>> >> > For Windows XP this is normally: "PYTHONPATH=C:\Program
>> >> > Files\gnuradio\lib\site-packages"
>> >> > For Windows 8 this is: "PYTHONPATH=C:\Program Files
>> >> > (x86)\gnuradio\lib\site-packages"
>> >> >
>> >> > 16. Check that the GRC_BLOCKS_PATH environment variable has been set
>> >> > to
>> >> > by
>> >> > GNURadio installer. Normally this should happen automatically. If it
>> >> > has
>> >> > not
>> >> > been set, then set it manually.
>> >> > For Windows XP this is: "GRC_BLOCKS_PATH=C:\Program
>> >> > Files\gnuradio\share\gnuradio\grc\blocks"
>> >> > For Windows 8 this is: "GRC_BLOCKS_PATH=C:\Program Files
>> >> > (x86)\gnuradio\share\gnuradio\grc\blocks"
>> >> >
>> >> > 17. Install any other hardware drivers that you need such as UHD,
>> >> > etc.
>> >> >
>> >> > 18. To run, in the command line type:
>> >> > gnuradio-companion.py
>> >> >
>> >> > If you like you can create a batch file to run this from a shortcut
>> >> > from
>> >> > the
>> >> > menu or the desktop.
>> >> >
>> >> > Hope this guide saves you many hours of wasted time so that you can
>> >> > fully
>> >> > enjoy the wonderful GNURadio experience!!
>> >> >
>> >> > B
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > _______________________________________________
>> >> > Discuss-gnuradio mailing list
>> >> > address@hidden
>> >> > https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss-gnuradio
>> >> >
>> >
>> >
>
>