General ⇒ TeXnicCenter, Vista, and path to executables

[mfrag]

I have a question regarding the use of TeXnicCenter on Windows Vista. It is a new requirement that our math majors use latex when turning in homework assignments. I'm a Linux user as are the majority of folks in the department. So I/we know very little about windows and what little I do know concerns XP. Before the semester started I went through a complete install of MiKTeX and several different options for an editor on an XP machine as I feel it is too much for me to ask that all my students use Linux. I decided to choose TeXnicCenter for various reasons. The second day of class I gave an "intro to latex" lecture and I went through the whole install process of MiKTeX and TeXnicCenter on an XP machine. The first homework assignment was for the students to add their name to the homework template .tex file, then compile and then send the pdf file as proof of a successful installation. For the most part all has gone well. The majority of the class uses XP with a handful of linux, Mac, and Vista users. The Linux and Mac users had no problems getting latex working on their own and an editor of their choice. The problem is with the Vista users.

Here is where my question comes in. None of the Vista users have been able to send me the pdf file. They all complain of not being able to install things correctly. From what I gather, many folks have not gotten TeXnicCenter and MiKTeX talking nicely to one another on Vista. After some discussion, I have surmised that the problem lies with the students not knowing the path to the MiKTeX bin file where the executables can be found as executing the command "pdflatex" on a dos prompt indicates MiKTeX is installed correctly. I have no Vista machine to play on unfortunately as our school does not use it in on any of their computers. So, does anyone know the default path to the executables in MiKTeX or how one can find it using the dos prompt? Or, can anyone else point me to a installation guide with detailed instructions for Vista? My students are using Version 1 Beta 7.50 of TeXnicCenter. Also, could anyone suggest an editor which installs with little trouble on Vista if it turns out TeXnicCenter won't do the job.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Matt

[BJ_FIVD]

I use a German Vista Ultimate 32 bit with SP1 (UAC disabled). Miktex 2.7 and TeXnicCenter (1 and 2) work fine here. Installation was the same as on Windows XP, if I rember correctly.

The path you are looking for is (as in Windows XP):
C:\Program Files\MiKTeX 2.7\miktex\bin

[mfrag]

Thanks for the quick reply. Yes, that is the path I told the class for XP and this is what my Vista students tried to use. One complained that when they used the browser to try this path that Vista wouldn't allow them to click on the desired folders. Also, they couldn't type the path in. Any ideas? Maybe the path is correct but Vista has some kind default setting not allowing them to enter certain folders? Sounds fishy to me. I might have to make a few house calls. Not sure what to tell them without having their computers in front of me.

[BJ_FIVD]

Do they use an administrator-account?

Maybe it helps to disable UAC?

Ask them to post here, it might be easier to help them then.