Steven Harms (stharms) wrote:
My instance of this issue is on XP.
The following are listed in no particular order:
1. When the LyX configuration script runs, it tests for the presence of
some common LaTeX classes by attempting to compile a test document using
each class. If you are using MikTeX (as I suspect), and some of the
classes are not yet installed, MikTeX will either (a) fail to compile
the test documents, (b) attempt to download and install the missing
classes, or (c) prompt you for permission to install them, depending on
how it is set up. Case (a) should result in the configuration script
correctly recognizing that the classes are missing (letting it move on
to other things). Case (b), or case (c) if you answer 'yes', can run
into problems if either you do not have an active Internet connection or
the server from which MikTeX tries to download the packages becomes
unresponsive. The workaround for this is either to set MikTeX not to
download missing packages (through MikTeX's Options program) or to
answer 'no' if it prompts you. Packages can always be downloaded and
installed later (after which LyX should be reconfigured).
2. If your XP account is set up to use a remote server (particularly if
accessed by a UNC) as your home, misadventures will occur during
configuration. I think LyX should pop up a message specific to this,
but I won't swear to it. If you're not sure where your home is, open a
DOS prompt and run 'set h'. Look for HOMEDRIVE (hopefully C:, hopefully
not \\someserver) and HOMEPATH.
3. If you have both MikTeX and some other LaTeX program installed, with
the other one first in the system command path, strange things can
happen. I used to have Cygwin installed, with Cygwin's bin directory
(containing a version of latex.exe) ahead of MikTeX's bin directory on
my path. Cygwin's latex.exe didn't work with LyX, and since it was the
one LyX found, configuration failed.
If none of this provides an answer, try the following. Using Win
Explorer to delete C:\Documents and Settings\<your id>\Application
Data\LyX1.4.x (if it exists) and anything in it. Open a DOS prompt in
C:\Documents and Settings\<your id>\Application Data. Run '<path to
LyX>\python\python.exe <path to LyX>\Resources\configure.py'. If it
produces (in .\LyX1.4.x) a textclass.lst file with length > 0, you
should be able to run LyX. If not, post the output and maybe someone
can spot a clue.
HTH,
/Paul
