installation help dealing with Python module psutil

[smithtoddm-beep]

My apologies in advance if this isn't the right place for this question, but I couldn't find a more promising option.

I'm wondering if anyone here can help me with some installation questions. I've been using Natlink/Dragonfly for several years, but this past week I've tried to reinstall on a new system, and it was the first time I've tried to use more recent versions of all of the various software layers here. That started with Dragon NaturallySpeaking 16.

I downloaded and ran natlink5.5.7-py3.10-32-setup, and had it install Python 3.10.11 as part of the process.

I tried to start up Dragon, I got the little window where it's reading in my Dragonfly files, and it complained about not being able to find "psutil". I was able to reproduce the same behavior by just running "C:\Program Files (x86)\Python310-32\python.exe" and then saying "import dragonfly".

At that point, I tried following the instructions that said "Optionally install other Python packages via commandline with Natlink's python interpreter utilizing Natlink Python Environment". But if I find "Natlink Python Environment" and click on "Open", I get the following error: "The item 'python_envionment.bat' that this shortcut refers to has been changed or moved, so this shortcut will no longer work properly".

Based on experience from past natlink installations, I tried to deal with this situation by just doing a "pip install" of psutil. So that meant "'C:\Program Files (x86)\Python310-32\python.exe' -m pip install psutil", at which point it produced an error message saying that I needed to install Microsoft C++ Build Tools. So I did that, from https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/visual-cpp-build-tools, and the psutil installation eventually appeared to succeed.

At that point, doing a "import dragonfly" in a command-line Python session worked, but Dragon didn't, giving me a Python stack trace and ultimately saying that the _psutil_windows module failed to load. I've tried using the Dependency Walker on the _psutil_windows.pyd file, but it really hasn't led me toward any specific solution. I am a software engineer, but I'm really not a Windows expert.

So at this point I'm wondering:

• Was it expected that I should be missing psutil, after the Python 3.10.11 part of the Natlink setup process appeared to go successfully?
• Is the problem here that I need to install psutil in the "Natlink Python Environment" way, and if so, how can I address the problem I had there?
• Or if the direction I've gone in so far is fine, how can I figure out what the current problem is with the _psutil_windows module?

Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated, and I'm happy to provide more details. Thanks.

[LexiconCode]

 Was it expected that I should be missing psutil, after the Python 3.10.11 part of the Natlink setup process appeared to go successfully?

No that should not be an issue

 Is the problem here that I need to install psutil in the "Natlink Python Environment" way, and if so, how can I address the problem I had there?

There's nothing special about "Natlink Python Environment" and simply a convenience especially if Python isn't on path. Essentially "'cmd /k cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Python310-32"

This must be failing :/

natlink/InstallerSource/inno-setup-natlink.iss

Line 70 in 3175241

Name: "{group}\Natlink Python Environment"; Filename: "{app}\python_environment.bat"; WorkingDir: "{app}"

natlink/InstallerSource/inno-code.iss

Line 236 in 3175241

SaveStringToFile(ExpandConstant('{app}')+'\python_environment.bat', 'cmd /k cd ' + PythonInstallPath, False);

 Or if the direction I've gone in so far is fine, how can I figure out what the current problem is with the _psutil_windows module?

if you have 64 bit Python installed I'd be curious to know if it also has psutil installed?
As a quick and dirty approach you could try uninstalling Python 32 bit and deleting its site 32 bit site package directory. Then reinstall.
#178

Did you install python with the installer or before the installer?
https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.10.11/python-3.10.11.exe

https://github.com/dictation-toolbox/natlink/blob/master/docs/debugging.md
See what DebugView outputs when Dragon launches.

[smithtoddm-beep]

Thanks for your reply!

if you have 64 bit Python installed I'd be curious to know if it also has psutil installed? As a quick and dirty approach you could try uninstalling Python 32 bit and deleting its site 32 bit site package directory. Then reinstall. #178

No, no 64-bit Python installed, as far as I can tell.

Did you install python with the installer or before the installer? https://www.python.org/ftp/python/3.10.11/python-3.10.11.

If I'm understanding correctly, "with" - I downloaded and ran natlink5.5.7-py3.10-32-setup, and had it install Python 3.10.11 as part of the process.

https://github.com/dictation-toolbox/natlink/blob/master/docs/debugging.md See what DebugView outputs when Dragon launches.

dragon_startup_20251104_1816_debugview.LOG
dragon_startup_20251104_1816_messages.txt

OK, I've attached the DebugView log here, and the Dragon message window content as well, just in case either of them are helpful.

In the meantime, I could try some different Python installation alternatives...

[LexiconCode]

dragonfly.windows.x11_window    import X11Window

Oh, it looks like it's trying to import an X11 class relying on psutil, which is for Linux X Windows Manager. Windows OS uses pywin32. @drmfinlay the platform checks should catch this. See https://github.com/dictation-toolbox/dragonfly/blob/master/dragonfly/windows/window.py

What version of Dragonfly are you using? @smithtoddm-beep

Starting natlink loader from config file: "C:\Users\todds\.natlink\natlink.ini"loading module: _emacsTraceback (most recent call last):  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\Python310-32\lib\site-packages\natlinkcore\loader.py", line 332, in load_or_reload_module    module = self._import_module_from_path(mod_path)  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\Python310-32\lib\site-packages\natlinkcore\loader.py", line 287, in _import_module_from_path    loader.exec_module(module)  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap_external>", line 883, in exec_module  File "<frozen importlib._bootstrap>", line 241, in _call_with_frames_removed  File "C:\Users\todds\dragonfly\_emacs.py", line 1, in <module>    from dragonfly import Key  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\Python310-32\lib\site-packages\dragonfly\__init__.py", line 35, in <module>    from .grammar.rule_basic         import BasicRule  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\Python310-32\lib\site-packages\dragonfly\grammar\rule_basic.py", line 99, in <module>    from dragonfly.actions.action_base  import ActionBase  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\Python310-32\lib\site-packages\dragonfly\actions\__init__.py", line 30, in <module>    from .action_context          import ContextAction  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\Python310-32\lib\site-packages\dragonfly\actions\action_context.py", line 28, in <module>    from dragonfly.windows.window      import Window  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\Python310-32\lib\site-packages\dragonfly\windows\__init__.py", line 28, in <module>    from .window      import Window  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\Python310-32\lib\site-packages\dragonfly\windows\window.py", line 34, in <module>    from dragonfly.windows.x11_window    import X11Window as Window  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\Python310-32\lib\site-packages\dragonfly\windows\x11_window.py", line 37, in <module>    import psutil  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\Python310-32\lib\site-packages\psutil\__init__.py", line 100, in <module>    from . import _pswindows as _psplatform  File "C:\Program Files (x86)\Python310-32\lib\site-packages\psutil\_pswindows.py", line 30, in <module>    from ._psutil_windows import ABOVE_NORMAL_PRIORITY_CLASSImportError: DLL load failed while importing _psutil_windows: The specified module could not be found.

[smithtoddm-beep]

I didn't do anything separate to install dragonfly - if I understand correctly, I got it as a result of checking the "Dragonfly" box in the Natlink configuration GUI.

[drmfinlay]

My guess is that this error is caused by the "DISPLAY" environment variable being set someplace. The master branch version of Dragonfly, which I need to publish a proper release of, handles this variable a bit better. Please try the command-line incantation below, restart Dragon and let us know if that fixes the problem. pip uninstall dragonfly2 pip install git+https://github.com/dictation-toolbox/dragonfly.git

[smithtoddm-beep]

Reinstalling dragonfly from github did in fact fix that problem.

So at this point things are generally working. Given that my existing dragonfly-based Python code was based on a release from several years ago, I had to modify or comment out a few things in order to push through to success, but nothing really problematic, and I can continue to sort through those things as time goes on.

Thanks to all of you for your help!