vim could not load library python27.dll

Question

I need Windows 7 + vim + python for writing vim plugins.

:python print("hello")
E370: Could not load library python27.dll
E263: Sorry, this command is disabled, the Python library could not be loaded.

Tried everything:

• reinstalled vim
• uninstalled all my 64bit python versions and installed 32bit ones
• reinstalled vim again
• restarted computer
• punched desk and keyboard
• restarted computer

Answer 1

Ok here it goes: For some reason installing "cream" fixes it: cream.sourceforge.net.

:python print("hello")
hello

Interestingly enough, "cream" includes a regular version of "gvim" - so I can use just that.

Answer 2

Diagnostics

:version will show you if you have 32bit vim or 64bit
python.exe will show you if you have 32bit or 64bit python.

Resolution

Now it's up to you to choose either:

• 32bit vim + 32bit python or

• 64bit vim + 64bit python

otherwise it won't work complaining with the error you quoted.

NB Latest 64bit vim cannot be downloaded from the download page anymore. For some mysterious reason now there's a new special page for that:

http://vim.wikia.com/wiki/Where_to_download_Vim

Answer 3

Are you sure that you installed the same version of 32 bit python that Vim was looking for? I see no reason that this wouldn't have fixed your problem, unless you somehow had a gvim exe built without python support. Anyway, I had precisely this problem, and the obvious thing to me was that my python dll was x64, whilst I had 32 bit vim. The solution for me was simply to build a 64 bit version of Vim. I much prefer upgrading Vim to downgrading Python. The arguments I sent to the make file were:

nmake -f Make_mvc.mak GUI=yes CPU=AMD64 PYTHON=C:\Python27 DYNAMIC_PYTHON=yes PYTHON_VER=27

I then replaced my original 32 bit gvim.exe with the 64 bit one I just built. Everything worked perfectly. If you are worried about the hassle of the build, don't be- it was very straightforward using visual studio 2010's compilers, and running make from the appropriate visual studio command prompt (x64 cross tools). I can send further instructions if needed.

Answer 4

An alternate solution that I have not seen mentioned that worked for me.

1. as the other answers state, make sure that the python version matches the 32/64 bit.

2. add set pythondll=FULL_PATH_TO_THE_APPROPRIATE_PYTHON.DLL to your .vimrc

for example: set pythondll=E:\\extern\\python27-32\\python27.dll

3. reload the vimrc by either closing and restarting vim, or using :source $MYVIMRC

other tidbits:

• to find out where your .vimrc is :echo $MYVIMRC

• to easily edit your .vimrc :e $MYVIMRC

• to see what it is set to :options then /pythondll or :set pythondll?

• to test that it worked :py import sys followed by :py print('Happy')

More Info:

:help python-dynamic

:help pythondll

:help options

:help source

:help $MYVIMRC

edit:

Answer 5

I had this problem with VIM 7.2 looking for the python25.dll This was fixed by adding the path to the python25.dll file (c:\python25\ on my system) to the PATH environment variable.

Answer 6

There is a similar question: Google drive error : python27.dll

Problem is in python27.dll dependencies. You can check this by dependencywalker utility. Missed dll is "msvcr90.dll". It comes with "Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable Package" and Windows 7 does not include it even with all installed updates. You should install this package manually from:

Windows 7 x64: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=15336

Windows 7 32 bit: https://www.microsoft.com/en-US/download/details.aspx?id=29

Answer 7

If you want to keep your 64-bit version of Python, at this moment, an easy to install and recent version of Vim64 for Windows can be found here. It even uninstalls your existing 32-bit gvim for you.