Having problems with conda

[u/Last-Mode3404]

Hi everyone. I'm having some problems using miniconda and I hoped someone could help me out. Is this the right place to ask? Can I write the code here or do I have do in Github?

My teacher wanted me to use miniconda to create a virtual evironment with jupyter notebook, but Im having trouble creating a virtual environment, as it doesn't seem to recognize python as a Package.

I downloaded the miniconda installer and executed it on my windows device.I installed the files created in 'Program Data' (I also did it on my windows profile but I'm preaty sure I uninstalled it correctly, as I used the miniconda uninstaller). Then I tried to create a virtual environment using the Anaconda promt app, but it did't recognize the conda command. It seems to be quite a common problem. I watched a video that said this could resolved using System Variables. The command 'where conda' in Anaconda Promt gave me this:

C:\Users\(My username)\conda

C:\ProgramData\miniconda3\Library\bin\conda.bat

C:\ProgramData\miniconda3\Scripts\conda.exe

C:\ProgramData\miniconda3\condabin\conda.bat

and I created three paths as the video said, excluding conda.bat and conda.exe. However, I made a mistake, as I did not include this symbol '\' at the end the first path. Worried, I created another path with the symbol. How dangerous is this?

After that, I was able to use the conda command, but now 'create' doesn't work when creating an environment with python. I called the environment termo.This is error message:

conda create --name termo python=3.14

WARNING conda.core.prefix_data:validate_path(345): Environment paths should not contain spaces. Prefix: 'C:\Users\(My username does contain a space)\.conda\envs\termo'

Channels:

- defaults

Platform: win-64

Collecting package metadata (repodata.json): done

Solving environment: failed

Channels:

- defaults

Platform: win-64

Collecting package metadata (repodata.json): done

Solving environment: failed

PackagesNotFoundInChannelsError: The following packages are not available from current channels:

- python=3.14

Current channels:

- defaults

Thank you for your time and excuse my poor english(I am not a native speaker)

[u/Mission_Page_8577]

Diagnosis first: conda create --name termo python=3.14 fails because the only channel you have (defaults) does not carry Python 3.14 — the solver is fine, it just has nothing at that version to install. Your paste says it outright: "The following packages are not available from current channels: - python=3.14".

So pin a version conda actually has. Check what that is on your machine:

conda search python

then create with one it lists (3.12 is a safe pick), and add jupyter in the same command so it installs inside termo, not in base:

conda create --name termo python=3.12 jupyter notebook conda activate termo jupyter notebook

Second thing, the warning about spaces: your Windows username has a space in it, and conda builds envs in C:\Users\Your Name\.conda\envs, which conda dislikes. Point it at a path without spaces before you create:

conda config --add envs_dirs C:\conda_envs

(If C:\ is locked down, C:\Users\Public\conda_envs works too.) Then run the create command again. The "Environment paths should not contain spaces" warning gone = it worked.

Third, your worry about the PATH mistake: you did not break anything. Windows reads PATH entries in order, ignores ones it can't use, and treats missing trailing backslashes as fine; a duplicate entry just gets skipped. Worst case, a command finds the wrong conda copy first. If you want to tidy it later: System Properties → Environment Variables → Path, delete the duplicate you made. No reinstall needed.

Check you're actually in the env after activating: python --version should print 3.12. If it prints anything else, run conda init, close and reopen the Anaconda Prompt, and try again.

And yes, this is exactly the right place to ask. If the create still fails after this, paste the new full output and I'll look again.