Trouble Installing Keras and TensorFlow in Anaconda Python

Question

I am trying to use Keras in Anaconda Python on my 64 bit Windows 10 computer that does not have a GPU(I don't know if that is significant or not). I called pip install keras and that seemed to install smoothly. However calling import keras gives this error:

    Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\python\pywrap_tensorflow.py", line 58, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.pywrap_tensorflow_internal import *
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\python\pywrap_tensorflow_internal.py", line 28, in <module>
    _pywrap_tensorflow_internal = swig_import_helper()
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\python\pywrap_tensorflow_internal.py", line 24, in swig_import_helper
    _mod = imp.load_module('_pywrap_tensorflow_internal', fp, pathname, description)
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\imp.py", line 242, in load_module
    return load_dynamic(name, filename, file)
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\imp.py", line 342, in load_dynamic
    return _load(spec)
ImportError: DLL load failed: The specified module could not be found.

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\keras\__init__.py", line 3, in <module>
    from tensorflow.keras.layers.experimental.preprocessing import RandomRotation
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\__init__.py", line 41, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.tools import module_util as _module_util
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\python\__init__.py", line 50, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python import pywrap_tensorflow
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\python\pywrap_tensorflow.py", line 69, in <module>
    raise ImportError(msg)
ImportError: Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\python\pywrap_tensorflow.py", line 58, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.pywrap_tensorflow_internal import *
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\python\pywrap_tensorflow_internal.py", line 28, in <module>
    _pywrap_tensorflow_internal = swig_import_helper()
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\python\pywrap_tensorflow_internal.py", line 24, in swig_import_helper
    _mod = imp.load_module('_pywrap_tensorflow_internal', fp, pathname, description)
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\imp.py", line 242, in load_module
    return load_dynamic(name, filename, file)
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\imp.py", line 342, in load_dynamic
    return _load(spec)
ImportError: DLL load failed: The specified module could not be found.


Failed to load the native TensorFlow runtime.

See https://www.tensorflow.org/install/errors

for some common reasons and solutions.  Include the entire stack trace
above this error message when asking for help.

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\Desktop\Code\JohnWorkspaces\Machine_Learning\BeginningWithPydev\main\main.py", line 1, in <module>
    import keras
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\keras\__init__.py", line 6, in <module>
    'Keras requires TensorFlow 2.2 or higher. '
ImportError: Keras requires TensorFlow 2.2 or higher. Install TensorFlow via pip install tensorflow

So I go and install tensorflow using pip install tensorflow . It seems to take a while, though eventually it installs, yet does nothing to fix my problem, and still gives me the above error. Calling import tensorflow gets me this error:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\python\pywrap_tensorflow.py", line 58, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.pywrap_tensorflow_internal import *
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\python\pywrap_tensorflow_internal.py", line 28, in <module>
    _pywrap_tensorflow_internal = swig_import_helper()
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\python\pywrap_tensorflow_internal.py", line 24, in swig_import_helper
    _mod = imp.load_module('_pywrap_tensorflow_internal', fp, pathname, description)
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\imp.py", line 242, in load_module
    return load_dynamic(name, filename, file)
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\imp.py", line 342, in load_dynamic
    return _load(spec)
ImportError: DLL load failed: The specified module could not be found.

During handling of the above exception, another exception occurred:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\Desktop\Code\JohnWorkspaces\Machine_Learning\BeginningWithPydev\main\main.py", line 1, in <module>
    import tensorflow
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\__init__.py", line 41, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.tools import module_util as _module_util
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\python\__init__.py", line 50, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python import pywrap_tensorflow
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\python\pywrap_tensorflow.py", line 69, in <module>
    raise ImportError(msg)
ImportError: Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\python\pywrap_tensorflow.py", line 58, in <module>
    from tensorflow.python.pywrap_tensorflow_internal import *
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\python\pywrap_tensorflow_internal.py", line 28, in <module>
    _pywrap_tensorflow_internal = swig_import_helper()
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\site-packages\tensorflow\python\pywrap_tensorflow_internal.py", line 24, in swig_import_helper
    _mod = imp.load_module('_pywrap_tensorflow_internal', fp, pathname, description)
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\imp.py", line 242, in load_module
    return load_dynamic(name, filename, file)
  File "C:\Users\jsmith\anaconda3\lib\imp.py", line 342, in load_dynamic
    return _load(spec)
ImportError: DLL load failed: The specified module could not be found.


Failed to load the native TensorFlow runtime.

See https://www.tensorflow.org/install/errors

for some common reasons and solutions.  Include the entire stack trace
above this error message when asking for help.

The only solutions I have found for this issue are downgrading TensorFlow and installing Visual Studio. I have heard that Visual Studio is a very large program and would like to refrain from installing it. As for downgrading TensorFlow, I feel there should be a better solution. What is it about Visual Studio that makes TensorFlow work, and is there a way I can get that(Certain DLLs or dependencies) without having to get everything else along with Visual Studio? These are links to places I have seen this:

1. Tensorflow on windows - ImportError: DLL load failed: The specified module could not be found

2. https://github.com/tensorflow/tensorflow/issues/35749

3. https://medium.com/@mdiqbalbajmi00786/importerror-keras-requires-tensorflow-2-2-e9f128c5fbf6

Answer 1

According to tensorflow installation , you should have pre installed C++ redistributable for windows 7 or later.

Also you can directly download the tensorflow wheel from here just make sure to choose correct operating system, architecture and python version while downloading. Then you can do

pip install path_t_wheel_file.whl

I have heard that Visual Studio is a very large program and would like to refrain from installing it.

You do not have to install entire visual studio just the C++ redistributable

What is it about Visual Studio that makes TensorFlow work,

I haven't looked into tensorflow's source code but I think It is written in C++ so it requires additional libs that are provided by the c++ redistributables

Answer 2

This may help
create new environment don't install packages in base environment (optional but it fixed tensorflow installation bugs for me)

conda install -c conda-forge tensorflow to install tensorflow
then pip install keras or conda install -c conda-forge keras