Install Miniconda 3 with Python 3.9 in Windows

This guide will show you how to install, configure, and run Miniconda 3 with Python 3.9. Before you start, you may want to remove other Python installations to avoid version and registry conflicts. You can do so by going to Control Panel and Uninstall Programs.

1. Download minconda3: go to anaconda.com and download Miniconda3-py39_23.5.2-0-Windows-x86_64.exe for the version that comes with Python 3.9.  
2. Double click on the downloaded file, follow the direction, and choose to install for all users and file location as C:\ProgramData\miniconda3 
3. Choose to install Miniconda to C:\ProgramData\miniconda3 
4. Check all the boxes in the next step and click Install button to finish. 
5. Add both Anaconda binary code folder C:\ProgramData\miniconda3\condabin and Miniconda3 installation folder C:\ProgramData\miniconda3 to the system PATH. Note that each program is installed in a specific folder. To run it, usually you will need to navigate to the folder or create a short cut with built-in path to the folder. Environment variable "Path" allow the system to find the program by searching the program in the specified paths. Here is how to use the environment variable to add, delete, or modify a path.
   1. click on the search box and type "env" and choose "Edit the system environment variables" (see below) to open System Properties.
   2. Click on "Environment Variables" button 
   3. Note that there are two different sets of environment variables (see below). The top one "User Variables" is for the current user and the lower one "System Variables" is for all the users of your computer. 
   4. If Path variable does not exist, click New button and enter the name "Path" (see the photo below) and then enter "C:\ProgramData\miniconda3\condabin" as Variable value or press Browse Directory button to find the program's folder.
   5. If the "Path" variable already exists, press Edit button and you will see a list of paths that are currently in place. To add a new path, click on New button and you you will see a new black entry in the list. Enter "C:\ProgramData\miniconda3\condabin" or click "Browse ..." button to navigate to the location. 
   6. Do the above Step 5 again to add the path C:\ProgramData\miniconda3 for Miniconda3 installation location. In the end, you should have two Path variable values as shown below. 
   7. Press a few OK buttons to dismiss dialog boxes to close System Properties.
   8. Finally, you will need to log out and re-log in to make the variable effective.
   9. If you want to create a new virtual environment with support for advanced NVidia GPU acceleration, follow the follow-up guide.