Hi Elizabeth,
Even though VPython 7 is now recommended, I can definitely understand running classic for a brief time until one can upgrade lab computers, etc.
Another option is to try installing through Anaconda. This is a more challenging method if one is not accustomed to using a command line. The following might work:
1. Install Anaconda. (I always google “anaconda download” or something like that. Be sure to download the Python 2.7 version of Anaconda.)
2. Find the anaconda command prompt. I don’t know what it’s called on Windows, but it should show up in your list of applications I think. Open this, and you will get a command line where you can type commands. Run the following command:
conda install -c mwcraig vpython
If successful, this will install the classic version of vpython within the anaconda distribution.
3. Now, from the command line, type:
vidle
This should open the VIDLE application from which you can write and run vpython programs. I have verified that this works on my computer.
There is an alternative. You can run python programs from the command line using pythonw. First, you will have to navigate to a folder where you have a .py file. Use the command ls to list directories and files. Use cd to change to a particular directory. I think the command prompt in Anaconda on Windows uses linux commands to list files and change directories, but I’m not sure about this. Otherwise, use windows commands like dir. When you get to a folder with your file, you can run the python program called “filename" using
pythonw filename
It should open in a window and run.
I hope this helps. It’s the only fix I can think of if you are constrained to vpython classic.
Aaron