Windows 10 x64 - Fatal Python error: Py_Initialize: unable to load the file system codec

[Smiley43210]

Make sure you are using the latest version: run youtube-dl --version and ensure your version is 2016.08.17. If it's not read this FAQ entry and update. Issues with outdated version will be rejected.

• I've verified and I assure that I'm running youtube-dl 2016.08.17

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• At least skimmed through README and most notably FAQ and BUGS sections
• Searched the bugtracker for similar issues including closed ones

What is the purpose of your issue?

• Bug report (encountered problems with youtube-dl)
• Site support request (request for adding support for a new site)
• Feature request (request for a new functionality)
• Question
• Other

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If the purpose of this issue is a bug report, site support request or you are not completely sure provide the full verbose output as follows:

Add -v flag to your command line you run youtube-dl with, copy the whole output and insert it here. It should look similar to one below (replace it with your log inserted between triple ```):

C:\path\to\youtube-dl>youtube-dl.exe -v
Fatal Python error: Py_Initialize: unable to load the file system codec
ImportError: No module named 'encodings'

Current thread 0x00003a38 (most recent call first):
<end of log>

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Description of your issue, suggested solution and other information

Similar issue:
I found #10053, which reports the same problem, but was closed because the user had placed it in C:\Windows\System32. I did not place mine in that location.

Additional notes:

• I downloaded the executable file just prior to executing, so it is the latest version
• Windows 10 x64 machine
• Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 redistributable package is installed
• The machine was recently upgraded to Windows 10, and prior to the upgrade, youtube-dl functioned just fine

[dstftw]

1. What is the C:\path\to\youtube-dl?
2. What is the output of where youtube-dl.exe?

[Smiley43210]

1. The path to youtube-dl is C:\Users\REDACTED\Downloads\Youtube. I'm using the executable from within the folder that it resides in, so it does not (and never has) exist in the PATH.

C:\Users\REDACTED\Downloads\Youtube>where youtube-dl.exe
C:\Users\REDACTED\Downloads\Youtube\youtube-dl.exe

[Slaymeister]

Same issue in Windows 10 x64. Tried in the cmd.exe interpreter and powershell v5.1. I'm running it out of the current directory. Path includes "c:\Python34;c:\python34\scripts".

c:\..>  .\youtube-dl.exe -v
Fatal Python error: Py_Initialize: unable to load the file system codec
ImportError: No module named 'encodings'

Current thread 0x00005464 (most recent call first):

[yan12125]

@Slaymeister Could you remove the Python 3.4 installation and try again? They may conflict with each other.

[Hrxn]

What happens if you boot into safe mode and run youtube-dl.exe there?

[Slaymeister]

I removed Python 3.4 and had the same error.
Running in safe mode also produced the same error.

[Hrxn]

Check with Tasklist (or Procexp) for running processes and services, try closing or deactivating non-necessary stuff and try again..

Maybe post the output here..

[yan12125]

I got this today. It seems a random error...

In all invocations youtube-dl.exe is the same file. G:\ is a mounted Virtualbox share.

[r13s]

I have such an error only when I try to run the youtube-dl.exe from any directory other than the one in which the youtube-dl.exe resides.

Windows 10 x64

[romaincointepas]

I can reproduce by simply signing youtube-dl.exe using SignTool.

Ex:

1. Download youtube-dl.exe then run it in many different ways (from same folder, etc.). Always works.
2. Sign it using signtool.exe sign ...
3. Run it with in many different ways, always fails with the following error:

Fatal Python error: Py_Initialize: unable to load the file system codec
ImportError: No module named 'encodings'

Relevant:

• https://stackoverflow.com/questions/28808842/how-to-digitally-sign-a-binary-produced-with-py2exe

[yan12125]

I guess signtool.exe changes the content of youtube-dl.exe? If so py2exe can be broken. What's the need of using signtool? youtube-dl.exe is already signed and the detached signature can be downloaded from https://yt-dl.org/downloads/latest/youtube-dl.exe.sig

…

On Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 4:56 PM, Romain Cointepas ***@***.***> wrote: I can reproduce by simply signing youtube-dl.exe using SignTool. Ex: 1. Download youtube-dl.exe then run it in many different ways (from same folder, etc.). Always works. 2. Sign it using signtool.exe sign ... 3. Run it with in many different ways, always fails with the following error: Fatal Python error: Py_Initialize: unable to load the file system codec ImportError: No module named 'encodings' — You are receiving this because you commented. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#10372 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AB2RGUCzGOcqiU-vRzUhsjwOVUBtEK6Eks5sngImgaJpZM4Jm9qT> .

[romaincointepas]

@yan12125 are you sure youtube-dl.exe is signed?

When I run signtool.exe verify youtube-dl.exe, I get SignTool Error: No signature found.

[yan12125]

The signature is not included in the executable itself. Instead, it's stored in an external, detached file, which is available at https://yt-dl.org/downloads/latest/youtube-dl.exe.sig. You can download both the executable and the signature and verify it with gpg: gpg --verify youtube-dl.exe.sig youtube-dl.exe As a reference, the last paragraph in http://rg3.github.io/youtube-dl/download.html provides more information and useful tips.

…

On Sat, Sep 30, 2017 at 6:55 PM, Romain Cointepas ***@***.***> wrote: @yan12125 <https://github.com/yan12125> are you sure youtube-dl.exe <https://github.com/rg3/youtube-dl/releases/download/2017.09.24/youtube-dl.exe> is signed? When I run signtool.exe verify youtube-dl.exe, I get SignTool Error: No signature found. — You are receiving this because you were mentioned. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#10372 (comment)>, or mute the thread <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AB2RGWlJE0pbyibHIEZx3UQiRAD6mVt7ks5snh4cgaJpZM4Jm9qT> .

[romaincointepas]

@yan12125 Oh got it.

I'm shipping youtube-dl as part of an Electron app, and as part of the packaging process I'm signing the main executable and all embedded executables. I've just discovered that in order to sign a py2exe executable, I will need to build youtube-dl myself and detach the library from the exe loader (as explained here: https://medium.com/@bjoernstiel/code-signing-py2exe-executables-a222c0d06d3f).

I'm currently trying to figure out how to build youtube-dl on Windows, but that shouldn't be a problem.

I just thought I would mention this specific cause as it ends up failing in the exact same way as this issue mentions.

[yan12125]

Thanks for the link! Maybe we can sign youtube-dl.exe when building it. Seems it requires buying a certificate to get a valid signature? I'm not sure if getting another signature is worth it - we already have PGP signatures.

If there's really a need, could you open a new issue? This issue targets unmodified youtube-dl.exe

[romaincointepas]

@yan12125 New issue created: #14367

Just to clarify here as well, the official youtube-dl release should not be signed (that's really not the problem, and you would encounter the same problem to sign it anyway). The solution simply require an additional build of youtube-dl for windows (one that separate the exe loader and the library, that's it).