# Having trouble running writefreely on windows 10

**URL:** <https://discuss.write.as/t/having-trouble-running-writefreely-on-windows-10/2084>\
**Category:** Installation\
**Created:** [November 22, 2020, 11:47pm UTC](https://discuss.write.as/t/having-trouble-running-writefreely-on-windows-10/2084 "2020-11-22T23:47:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tyly](https://discuss.write.as/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@tyly](https://discuss.write.as/u/tyly)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2020, 11:47pm UTC](https://discuss.write.as/t/having-trouble-running-writefreely-on-windows-10/2084/1 "2020-11-22T23:47:59Z")

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I’m not sure exactly what I’m doing wrong, but after following the instructions and typing in “writefreely config start” into the command panel, it shows up with this:

“C:\Users\tyler\>writefreely config start  
‘writefreely’ is not recognized as an internal or external command,  
operable program or batch file.”

Any idea what I need to do? I’m not excellent with code so I figure there is something specifically I’m doing wrong here. Thanks!

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**Author:** ![cjeller1592](https://discuss.write.as/user_avatar/discuss.write.as/cjeller1592/32/128_2.png) [@cjeller1592](https://discuss.write.as/u/cjeller1592)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2020, 8:31pm UTC](https://discuss.write.as/t/having-trouble-running-writefreely-on-windows-10/2084/2 "2020-11-23T20:31:48Z")

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Hi @tyly! On Windows you have to add `.exe` to the end to execute the program. So your command will look like this instead:

`writefreely.exe config start`

That _should_ do the trick. Let us know if that still gives you a similar error and we’ll help out further.

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**Author:** ![rgx2](https://discuss.write.as/user_avatar/discuss.write.as/rgx2/32/825_2.png) [@rgx2](https://discuss.write.as/u/rgx2)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 12:56am UTC](https://discuss.write.as/t/having-trouble-running-writefreely-on-windows-10/2084/3 "2020-12-10T00:56:43Z")

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> [@tyly](#):
>
> following the instructions and typing in “writefreely config start” into the command panel

The problem here is a simple one – contrary to what CJ posted, the ‘.exe’ is NOT necessary in a Windows machine.

Since the early days of the PC, a .com or . exe extension was automatically executed when I entered a ‘program-name’ without an extension.

The problem is, _ **finding the executable** _. In your example, you showed the command running from your home directory in the Windows machine. The writefreely.exe is not located there, so it will look for it in the **$PATH** environment variable. And did not find it.

You **CAN** run it fine with a shortcut - using this :

- program target : “ **C:\instalation-path\WriteFreely\writefreely.exe** ”

- start in : “ **C:\instalation-path\WriteFreely\** ”

You might not even need the Quote marks around the path; I used them here **in case your installation path has spaces in it** , eg : C:\Program Files\WriteFreely .

Have had my own personal instance here for a year now, and can confirm it works well – if you get over the poor installation instructions and manage to get the necessary SQL server installed. (that was the hardest part).

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**Author:** ![cjeller1592](https://discuss.write.as/user_avatar/discuss.write.as/cjeller1592/32/128_2.png) [@cjeller1592](https://discuss.write.as/u/cjeller1592)\
**Post date:** [December 10, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://discuss.write.as/t/having-trouble-running-writefreely-on-windows-10/2084/4 "2020-12-10T18:40:07Z")

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Thanks for the extra help @rgx2! Were you able to get WriteFreely up and running @tyly? We can help you out further if need be.