Error loading python27.dll error for pyinstaller

Question

I have successfully edited my spec file and added the folder with my data to it. It builds fine but it still can't access the data. WHen i try to run the compiled .exe i get this error: Error loading Python DLL: C:\\Users\\Sal\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\_MEI60122\\python27.dll (error code 126)

EDIT 1 - I still don't have this figured out my spec file looks like this:

a = Analysis(['Clock_In.py'],
             pathex=['C:\\Users\\Sal\\Desktop'],
             hiddenimports=[],
             hookspath=None,
             runtime_hooks=None)
a.datas += [('CO_time.pkl','CO_time.pkl', 'DATA')]
a.datas += [('hours.pkl','hours.pkl', 'DATA')]
a.datas += [('Obj_file.pkl','Obj_file.pkl', 'DATA')]
a.datas += [('weekly_hours_dict.pkl','weekly_hours_dict.pkl', 'DATA')]



pyz = PYZ(a.pure)
exe = EXE(pyz,
          a.datas,
          a.binaries,       
          a.scripts,
          exclude_binaries=True,
          name='Clock_In.exe',
          debug=False,
          strip=None,
          upx=True,
          console=True, 
          icon="C:\Users\Sal\Desktop\Raindropmemory-Legendora-BrokenSword.ico")
coll = COLLECT(exe,
               a.binaries,
               a.zipfiles,
               a.datas,
               strip=None,
               upx=True,
               **name='Clock_In')

EDIT 2

I am using 32-Bit python on a 64-bit OS(windows 8) and it has been brought to my attention that this could potentially be causing my issue, but still no solution.

EDIT 3

So i have just tried download 64-bit python and putting it in my system path. ran pyinstaller with my .spec file and still got the exact same error code! What is going on here! A curious detail though is that the icon="C:\\Users\\Sal\\Desktop\\Raindropmemory-Legendora-BrokenSword.ico") statement from spec file executed and updated the icon successfully, where as before it would not.

EDIT 4

This is the statement i have in my code for MEIPASS straight from the documentation.

if getattr(sys, 'frozen', False):
# we are running in a |PyInstaller| bundle
basedir = sys._MEIPASS
else:
# we are running in a normal Python environment
basedir = os.path.dirname(__file__)

Answer 1

I found same error after creating a standalone executable like this:

pyi-makespec.exe -F program.py
## Customize script.spec just created

and

pyinstaller.exe -F script.spec

so I needed to run the executable as administrator to solve it.

I don't know the reason because it wasn't my computer. I had done the process in mine first and worked like a charm but not there. Perhaps some security configuration or a weird installation of python or wxpython , but I add this solution here because I was looking for hours without success, and it's a simple task that can save you some time before trying more complex approaches.

Answer 2

You put that code snippet right at the top of the Python script you are turning into an executable - not in the spec and not in its own script. I found an example here:

https://shanetully.com/2013/08/cross-platform-deployment-of-python-applications-with-pyinstaller/

Answer 3

I encountered the same issue, and finally find the reason is anti-virus software treat "python27.dll" as a trojan, and deleted it when exe try to load.

The problem is solved by add "...\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\\" to trusted zone.

Answer 4

One simple thing to do is to delete all the stuff in the following folder: C:\\Users\\xxx\\AppData\\Roaming\\pyinstaller. I've fixed the issue after I cleaned this folder. Maybe also delete all the files which are created by Pyinstaller last time.

Answer 5

Having the same issue on python3.7 on windows 10.

Fixed this by adding --upx-exclude"vcruntime140.dll" option.

More info can be found here