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I have been using IDLE on my previous laptop and it was working well although I have to say I'm still very new to python. I've read around about the issue and can't find any solution I can use. I can run the IDLE GUI through the python command line version by saying "import idle" but it generates a bunch of error lines (copied the command prompt):
>>> import idle
Traceback (most recent call last):
 File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
 File "c:\python31\lib\idlelib\idle.py", line 11, in <module>
 idlelib.PyShell.main()
 File "c:\python31\lib\idlelib\PyShell.py", line 1388, in main
 shell = flist.open_shell()
 File "c:\python31\lib\idlelib\PyShell.py", line 277, in open_shell
 self.pyshell = PyShell(self)
 File "c:\python31\lib\idlelib\PyShell.py", line 813, in __init__
 OutputWindow.__init__(self, flist, None, None)
 File "c:\python31\lib\idlelib\OutputWindow.py", line 16, in __init__
 EditorWindow.__init__(self, *args)
 File "c:\python31\lib\idlelib\EditorWindow.py", line 261, in __init__
 self.update_recent_files_list()
 File "c:\python31\lib\idlelib\EditorWindow.py", line 779, in update_recent_fil
es_list
 rf_file = open(self.recent_files_path, 'w')
IOError: [Errno 13] Permission denied: 'C:\\Documents and Settings\\<USERNAME>\\.idle
rc\\recent-files.lst'
I have tried to use Explorer to reach the files and I get a permission error (the same occurs when trying to reach with the command prompt). I have tried to change the read only nature of this folder and it automatically reverts after the attribute is set. Also the folder is empty according to explorer. I have tried running it with my firewall disabled. 
I am running 32bit XP on a lenovo T510 with 3.1.2 python installed
Thanks in advance!

> I have tried to use Explorer to reach the files and I get a
> permission error (the same occurs when trying to reach with the
> command prompt). I have tried to change the read only nature of this
> folder and it automatically reverts after the attribute is set. Also
> the folder is empty according to explorer. I have tried running it
> with my firewall disabled.
As a work-around, remove the hidden flag from the idlerc folder and
all of its files.

Also the IDLE that I do manage to get open really doesn't work correctly, more errors appear on the command line console as I try to do things like close the IDLE window. So that doesn't serve as a useful tool either

I can clear the attributes from the properties window of the folder but if I remove them both it will automatically reset it back to Read Only every time i close the properties window. I can get it to be hidden but I can't make it permanently available.

> I can clear the attributes from the properties window of the folder
> but if I remove them both it will automatically reset it back to Read
> Only every time i close the properties window. I can get it to be
> hidden but I can't make it permanently available.
I'm not talking about the read-only attribute. It's alright that you
can't clear it - Windows doesn't support that, and it's not a problem
at all.
I'm talking about the "hidden" attribute.

The hidden field is not filled in, here's a screenshot of the attributes options

> The hidden field is not filled in, here's a screenshot of the attributes options
Ok. Remove the entire .idlerc folder, then.

> Ok. Remove the entire .idlerc folder, then.
Before doing that (if you still can) try something else.
Go *into* the .idlerc folder, and remove the hidden flag
from all individual files.

Upon trying to delete I'm prompted with an error:
Access is denied.
Make sure the disc is not full or write-protected and that the file is currently not in use.
My disc isn't full and I cannot find anything accessing it (and the folder is empty so...)
Is there a way around this?

The folder is not empty. Configure Explorer so that it displays hidden files.

I also cannot get into the folder itself.
"Access Denied"

The problem is that I can do nothing to the folder at all

Sorry but I still cannot get it to work because the folder remains inaccessible to me and immutable. Is there any way around this problem?

I solved the problem myself by editing the EditorWindow.py file where it sets self.recent_files_path by setting it to a different file location (I created a file in my Python31 directory named recent-files.lst and then set the recent_files_path to the absolute path to this file I made). This seems to be working so far and works like a complete work around the .idlerc folder issue. Will report if this doesn't work out later

Sorry, I'm busy with other stuff and won't be able to look into this for another week or so.

Had this issue.. figured out what's causing it... definitively.
I had an earlier version of python installed, and I created a pythonhome user variable: "c:\python24."
I'm now using Python 2.5, and that old variable was:
1.) Keeping me from opening the IDLE
2.) Keeping the console from finding the os module. This is also the source of the import os error.
TO FIX:
- modify the pythonhome variable to your current version, or.. remove it.
-Dmark
www.dmarkphotography.com 

This is a duplicate of #4625.

As there are proposed patches in Issue4625 that address the original problem reported here, let's move the discussion there.