Broken executables with 26.0b1

[bwoodsend]

Following on from DPO...

Install source and version

• Installed from the Windows Store
• Installed with the MSIX from python.org
• Installed with the MSI from python.org
• Installed with winget install 9NQ7512CXL7T

Version: 26.0b1

Describe the bug
The executables in ~\AppData\Local\Python\bin are broken for me. With where python resolving to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\bin\python.exe:

• Running python -> Access is denied.
• Running C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\bin\python.exe: A popup appears saying We can't open this 'ms-windows-store'; Your device needs a new app to open this link.
• Likewise with C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\python.exe or C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\py.exe
• Running py (resolves to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\py.exe) or C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\python.exe both correctly launch.

Additional context

This is a rather ropey Windows ARM64 VM (built using UTM). It has no network access.

[bwoodsend]

Just copying your response from DPO for the sake of keeping this issue self contained.

C:\Users\bagpuss>C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\bin\python.exe
[ Creates an error popup saying We can't open this 'ms-store-link'; Your device needs a new app to open this link. ]

Hmm… this is quite surprising.

ms-windows-store:// should be handled by the Store app, so if you’ve disabled, removed, corrupted, or otherwise broken that, it might be the problem. I’m not sure how you do any of those (besides disabling), but just trying to launch the Store app might provide a hint. (I assume it says ms-windows-store rather than ms-store-link, since the latter doesn’t exist… if it does say the latter, you’ve got unrelated system issues, sorry!)

But in any case, we shouldn’t be trying to launch a Store link from our install manager executables. My guess is that we’ve somehow put the path to the preinstalled python.exe into C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\bin\python.exe.__target__ (which you can easily check by looking in that file), but I can’t think of any ways for that to happen naturally.

It’s possible the py install --refresh logs (or -vv output) may have a hint - could you file an issue and include the log for that? And also the py list -f json output. (These may include usernames or personal information from your system, feel free to scan and censor before posting them.) Thanks!

[bwoodsend]

ms-windows-store:// should be handled by the Store app, so if you’ve disabled, removed, corrupted, or otherwise broken that, it might be the problem. I’m not sure how you do any of those (besides disabling), but just trying to launch the Store app might provide a hint

It turns out that this VM does not have the Windows store (or possibly it's very good at hiding). I didn't think that was possible. There is a repair wizard for fixing Windows store apps that told me I need to turn UAC on. Maybe no UAC is a factor...

But in any case, we shouldn’t be trying to launch a Store link from our install manager executables. My guess is that we’ve somehow put the path to the preinstalled python.exe into C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\bin\python.exe.target (which you can easily check by looking in that file), but I can’t think of any ways for that to happen naturally.

Each .exe in C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\bin has a ~600KB size and a corresponding $file.__target__ file that contains a plain-text path to a ...\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\python.exe (and it's always python.exe – even when the __target__ file is pip). All the pip.exe variants additionally have a corresponding .__script__.py file containing some small pip wrapper. That sound like what it's supposed to sound like?

There's also a pip3.10.exe in there whose target points to the wrong Python environment. I don't even have 3.10 on here. But probably not related...

C:\Users\bagpuss>cat C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\bin\pip3.10.exe.__target__
C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.11\python.exe

Each .exe in C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps is an empty file. Not sure what that means?

It’s possible the py install --refresh logs (or -vv output) may have a hint - could you file an issue and include the log for that?

py install --refresh -vv logs

C:\Users\bagpuss>py install --refresh -vv
Loading configuration from C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\pymanager.json
# Setting config install to {'fallback_source': 'file:///C:/Program Files/WindowsApps/PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km/bundled/fallback-index.json', 'default_install_tag': '3'}
# Setting config list to {}
# Setting config registry_override_key to 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\Software\\Policies\\Python\\PyManager'
# Setting config shebang_can_run_anything_silently to False
# Setting config install_dir to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python
# Setting config download_dir to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\_cache
# Setting config global_dir to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\bin
# Setting config bundled_dir to C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\bundled
# Setting config user_config to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Roaming\Python\PyManager.json
# Setting config pep514_root to 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\Software\\Python'
# Setting config start_folder to 'Python'
# Setting config launcher_exe to C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcher.exe
# Setting config launcherw_exe to C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcherw.exe
# Setting config welcome_on_update to True
# Setting config _config_files to C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\pymanager.json
Skipping configuration at C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Roaming\Python\PyManager.json because it does not exist
# Get CPU architecture, its prefix is -64
# Overriding command option fallback_source with 'file:///C:/Program Files/WindowsApps/PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km/bundled/fallback-index.json'
# Overriding command option default_install_tag with '3'
# Finished processing options for install
Writing logs to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Temp\python_install_20260124035559_5728.log
Python installation manager 26.0b1
Copyright (c) Python Software Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

# BEGIN install_command.execute: []
Refreshing install registrations.
# Updating global shortcuts
# Reading installs from C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python
# Found 5 installs
# Calculating default install
# Filtering installs by tag = 3
# Filter included pythoncore-3.14-64
# Filter included pythoncore-3.13
# Filter included pythoncore-3.12
# Filter included pythoncore-3.11
# Filter included pythoncore-3.11-arm64
# tag '3' matched 5 installs
# - 5 core install(s) by prefix
# default_platform '-64' matched 1 install
# Default install will be pythoncore-3.14-64
# Calculating aliases for pythoncore-3.14-64
# Found 1 entry_points.txt files in 1 dist-info in C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\Lib\site-packages
# Calculating aliases for pythoncore-3.13
# Found 1 entry_points.txt files in 1 dist-info in C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.13\Lib\site-packages
# Calculating aliases for pythoncore-3.12
# Found 1 entry_points.txt files in 1 dist-info in C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.12\Lib\site-packages
# Calculating aliases for pythoncore-3.11
# Found 2 entry_points.txt files in 2 dist-info in C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.11\Lib\site-packages
# Calculating aliases for pythoncore-3.11-arm64
# Found 2 entry_points.txt files in 2 dist-info in C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.11-arm64\Lib\site-packages
# Creating aliases
# Checking for launcher for platform -64
# Create python3.14.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\python.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcher-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -64
# Create python3.14-64.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\python.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcher-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -64
# Create python3.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\python.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcher-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -64
# Create python3-64.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\python.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcher-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -64
# Create pythonw3.14.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\pythonw.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcherw-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -64
# Create pythonw3.14-64.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\pythonw.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcherw-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -64
# Create pythonw3.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\pythonw.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcherw-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -64
# Create pythonw3-64.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\pythonw.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcherw-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -64
# Create python linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\python.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcher-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -64
# Create pythonw linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\pythonw.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcherw-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -64
# Create pip linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\python.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcher-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -64
# Create pip3 linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\python.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcher-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -3.13.1
# Checking for launcher for default platform -64
# Create python3.13.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.13\python.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcher-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -3.13.1
# Checking for launcher for default platform -64
# Create pythonw3.13.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.13\pythonw.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcherw-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -3.12.8
# Checking for launcher for default platform -64
# Create python3.12.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.12\python.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcher-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -3.12.8
# Checking for launcher for default platform -64
# Create pythonw3.12.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.12\pythonw.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcherw-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -3.11.9
# Checking for launcher for default platform -64
# Create python3.11.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.11\python.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcher-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -3.11.9
# Checking for launcher for default platform -64
# Create pythonw3.11.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.11\pythonw.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcherw-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -3.11.9
# Checking for launcher for default platform -64
# Create pip3.10 linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.11\python.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcher-64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -arm64
# Create python3.11-arm64.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.11-arm64\python.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcher-arm64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -arm64
# Create python3-arm64.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.11-arm64\python.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcher-arm64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -arm64
# Create pythonw3.11-arm64.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.11-arm64\pythonw.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcherw-arm64.exe
# Checking for launcher for platform -arm64
# Create pythonw3-arm64.exe linking to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.11-arm64\pythonw.exe using C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km\templates\launcherw-arm64.exe
# Cleaning up aliases
# Retaining 23 aliases
# Creating/updating HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Python\PythonCore\3.14
# Creating shortcut C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Python\Python 3.14\Python 3.14.lnk to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\python.exe
# Creating shortcut C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Python\Python 3.14\Python 3.14 Online Documentation.lnk to https://docs.python.org/3.14/
# Creating shortcut C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Python\Python 3.14\IDLE (Python 3.14).lnk to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\pythonw.exe
# Creating shortcut C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Python\Python 3.14\PyDoc (Python 3.14).lnk to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\python.exe
# Creating shortcut C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Python\Python 3.14\Python 3.14 Manuals.lnk to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\Doc\html\index.html
# Creating ARP entry for pymanager-pythoncore-3.14-64
# Searching C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps for pymanager.exe for ARP entries
# Checking C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_3847v3x7pw1km\pymanager.exe
# Creating/updating HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Python\PythonCore\3.13
# Creating shortcut C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Python\Python 3.13\Python 3.13.lnk to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.13\python.exe
# Creating shortcut C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Python\Python 3.13\Python 3.13 Documentation.lnk to https://docs.python.org/3.13/
[WARNING] An existing runtime is registered at PythonCore\3.12 in the registry, and so the new one has not been registered.
This may prevent some other applications from detecting the new installation, although 'py -V:...' will work. To register the new installation, remove the existing runtime and then run 'py install --refresh'
# Creating shortcut C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Python\Python 3.12\Python 3.12.lnk to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.12\python.exe
# Creating shortcut C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Python\Python 3.12\Python 3.12 Documentation.lnk to https://docs.python.org/3.12/
# Creating/updating HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Python\PythonCore\3.11
# Creating shortcut C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Python\Python 3.11\Python 3.11.lnk to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.11\python.exe
# Creating shortcut C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Python\Python 3.11\Python 3.11 Documentation.lnk to https://docs.python.org/3.11/
# Creating/updating HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Python\PythonCore\3.11-arm64
# Creating shortcut C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Python\Python 3.11 (ARM64)\Python 3.11 (ARM64).lnk to C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.11-arm64\python.exe
# Creating shortcut C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Python\Python 3.11 (ARM64)\Python 3.11 Documentation.lnk to https://docs.python.org/3.11/
# Cleaning up registry entries
# Skipping HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Python\PythonCore\3.11
# Skipping HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Python\PythonCore\3.11-arm64
# Skipping HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Python\PythonCore\3.12
# Skipping HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Python\PythonCore\3.12-arm64
# Skipping HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Python\PythonCore\3.13
# Skipping HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Python\PythonCore\3.14
# Cleaning up Start menu shortcuts
# Except: Python 3.13
# Except: Python 3.14
# Except: Python 3.13\Python 3.13 Documentation
# Except: Python 3.13\Python 3.13
# Except: Python 3.12
# Except: Python 3.12\Python 3.12
# Except: Python 3.14\Python 3.14
# Except: Python 3.11
# Except: Python 3.14\PyDoc (Python 3.14)
# Except: Python 3.12\Python 3.12 Documentation
# Except: Python 3.11\Python 3.11 Documentation
# Except: Python 3.11 (ARM64)\Python 3.11 Documentation
# Except: Python 3.14\Python 3.14 Manuals
# Except: Python 3.11\Python 3.11
# Except: Python 3.11 (ARM64)\Python 3.11 (ARM64)
# Except: Python 3.11 (ARM64)
# Except: Python 3.14\IDLE (Python 3.14)
# Except: Python 3.14\Python 3.14 Online Documentation
# Reading installs from C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python
# Found 5 installs
# Calculating default install
# Filtering installs by tag = 3
# Filter included pythoncore-3.14-64
# Filter included pythoncore-3.13
# Filter included pythoncore-3.12
# Filter included pythoncore-3.11
# Filter included pythoncore-3.11-arm64
# tag '3' matched 5 installs
# - 5 core install(s) by prefix
# default_platform '-64' matched 1 install
# Default install will be pythoncore-3.14-64
Python 3.14.2 will be launched by python.exe and also python3[-64].exe, python3.14[-64].exe
Python 3.13.1 will be launched by python3.13.exe
Python 3.12.8 will be launched by python3.12.exe
Python 3.11.9 will be launched by python3.11.exe
Python 3.11.9 (ARM64) will be launched by python3-arm64.exe, python3.11-arm64.exe
# END install_command.execute

And also the py list -f json output.

Details

{
  "versions": [
    {
      "schema": 1,
      "id": "pythoncore-3.14-64",
      "sort-version": "3.14.2",
      "company": "PythonCore",
      "tag": "3.14-64",
      "install-for": [
        "3.14.2-64",
        "3.14-64",
        "3-64",
        "3.14-dev-64",
        "3-dev-64"
      ],
      "alias": [
        {
          "target": "python.exe",
          "name": "python3.14.exe"
        },
        {
          "target": "python.exe",
          "name": "python3.14-64.exe"
        },
        {
          "target": "python.exe",
          "name": "python3.exe"
        },
        {
          "target": "python.exe",
          "name": "python3-64.exe"
        },
        {
          "target": "pythonw.exe",
          "windowed": 1,
          "name": "pythonw3.14.exe"
        },
        {
          "target": "pythonw.exe",
          "windowed": 1,
          "name": "pythonw3.14-64.exe"
        },
        {
          "target": "pythonw.exe",
          "windowed": 1,
          "name": "pythonw3.exe"
        },
        {
          "target": "pythonw.exe",
          "windowed": 1,
          "name": "pythonw3-64.exe"
        }
      ],
      "display-name": "Python 3.14.2",
      "executable": "C:\\Users\\bagpuss\\AppData\\Local\\Python\\pythoncore-3.14-64\\python.exe",
      "url": "file:///C:/Program Files/WindowsApps/PythonSoftwareFoundation.PythonManager_26.0.177.0_x64__3847v3x7pw1km/bundled/pythoncore-3.14-64-3.14.2.zip",
      "hash": {
        "sha256": "7f9f03032b19222299d04ae5b1ad459bd913bc25e8d1ff070e1a80e09a4feddf"
      },
      "run-for": [
        {
          "target": "python.exe",
          "tag": "3.14.2-64"
        },
        {
          "target": "python.exe",
          "tag": "3.14-dev-64"
        },
        {
          "target": "python.exe",
          "tag": "3-dev-64"
        },
        {
          "target": "python.exe",
          "tag": "3.14-64"
        },
        {
          "target": "python.exe",
          "tag": "3-64"
        },
        {
          "target": "pythonw.exe",
          "windowed": 1,
          "tag": "3.14.2-64"
        },
        {
          "target": "pythonw.exe",
          "windowed": 1,
          "tag": "3.14-dev-64"
        },
        {
          "target": "pythonw.exe",
          "windowed": 1,
          "tag": "3-dev-64"
        },
        {
          "target": "pythonw.exe",
          "windowed": 1,
          "tag": "3.14-64"
        },
        {
          "target": "pythonw.exe",
          "windowed": 1,
          "tag": "3-64"
        }
      ],
      "shortcuts": [
        {
          "kind": "pep514",
          "Key": "PythonCore\\3.14",
          "DisplayName": "Python 3.14.2",
          "SupportUrl": "https://www.python.org/",
          "SysArchitecture": "64bit",
          "SysVersion": "3.14",
          "Version": "3.14.2",
          "InstallPath": {
            "_": "%PREFIX%",
            "ExecutablePath": "%PREFIX%python.exe",
            "WindowedExecutablePath": "%PREFIX%pythonw.exe",
            "IdlePath": "%PREFIX%Lib\\idlelib\\idle.pyw"
          },
          "Help": {
            "Online Python Documentation": {
              "_": "https://docs.python.org/3.14/"
            },
            "Main Python Documentation": {
              "_": "%PREFIX%Doc\\html\\index.html"
            }
          }
        },
        {
          "kind": "start",
          "Name": "Python 3.14",
          "Items": [
            {
              "Name": "Python 3.14",
              "Target": "%PREFIX%python.exe",
              "Icon": "%PREFIX%python.exe"
            },
            {
              "Name": "Python 3.14 Online Documentation",
              "Icon": "%SystemRoot%\\System32\\SHELL32.dll",
              "IconIndex": 13,
              "Target": "https://docs.python.org/3.14/"
            },
            {
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}

These may include usernames or personal information from your system,

Don't worry. Bagpuss isn't a secret. 🙂

[zooba]

This is a rather ropey Windows ARM64 VM (built using UTM). It has no network access.

This I expect is the root cause, but I'd still like to understand it.

Each .exe in C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\bin has a ~600KB size and a corresponding $file.__target__ file that contains a plain-text path to a ...\AppData\Local\Python\pythoncore-3.14-64\python.exe

I was (kind of) hoping that the python.exe.__target__ pointed somewhere different, since that's the only way I can think of that running it directly could be trying to launch a Store app (I quote, "Running C:\Users\bagpuss\AppData\Local\Python\bin\python.exe: A popup appears saying We can't open this 'ms-windows-store'; ...").

I'd be less surprised if running it indirectly was resolving to the wrong app - likely the preinstalled one - but I'm utterly confused how we can have a regular exe referencing a regular exe and be getting a Store error.

it's always python.exe – even when the __target__ file is pip). All the pip.exe variants additionally have a corresponding .__script__.py file containing some small pip wrapper. That sound like what it's supposed to sound like?

Yes, this is the design. We always need to launch the executable (or find and load its DLL), and sometimes we want to launch it with a script that's derived from a package's entry points.

There's also a pip3.10.exe in there whose target points to the wrong Python environment.

Yeah, this is an authoring error in pip that has been fixed, but can't be removed from older releases.

Maybe no UAC is a factor...

Potentially, but I'd expect it to only matter when it comes to trying to repair broken stuff in the system (since "disabled" can either mean "always admin, all the time" or "never admin with no way to change that"). It shouldn't affect PyManager or any installed runtimes.

It's also possible, if you've installed all updates, that you're hitting a known issue in the January security patches. This one seems unlikely though, as that has different error messages.

Perhaps the last bits of information that are helpful here would be:

• check Manage App Execution Aliases to make sure the commands are active for Python (default) or Python install manager and not something else
• check the python.exe.__target__ file specifically to see if it's also pointing at the python-3.14 install and not something else