I have downloaded Miktex but when I run it, it asks me for the
directory containing the Miktex distribution files. The only Miktex
thing I know of is the exe file, so I point it to my Desktop where I
have put that file. But it says it's not a valid source file.
What am I doing wrong?
With thanks in advance.

Le 27/01/2011 20:09, J.Jack.J. a �crit :
> I have downloaded Miktex but when I run it, it asks me for the
> directory containing the Miktex distribution files. The only Miktex
> thing I know of is the exe file, so I point it to my Desktop where I
> have put that file. But it says it's not a valid source file.
> What am I doing wrong?
> With thanks in advance.

Here you'll find information on installation (from the MikTeX manual):
http://docs.miktex.org/2.9/manual/installing.html

Hopefully it'll solve your problem.

Best,
Paul

On Jan 27, 8:21=A0pm, zappathustra <zappathus...@free.fr> wrote:
> Le 27/01/2011 20:09, J.Jack.J. a =E9crit :
>
> > I have downloaded Miktex but when I run it, it asks me for the
> > directory containing the Miktex distribution files. The only Miktex
> > thing I know of is the exe file, so I point it to my Desktop where I
> > have put that file. But it says it's not a valid source file.
> > What am I doing wrong?
> > With thanks in advance.
>
> Here you'll find information on installation (from the MikTeX manual):htt=
p://docs.miktex.org/2.9/manual/installing.html


I had read this but it doesn't cover the bit that is my stumbling
block.

On Jan 27, 10:14=A0pm, "J.Jack.J." <jack.j.jep...@googlemail.com> wrote:
> On Jan 27, 8:21=A0pm, zappathustra <zappathus...@free.fr> wrote:
>
> > Le 27/01/2011 20:09, J.Jack.J. a =E9crit :
>
> > > I have downloaded Miktex but when I run it, it asks me for the
> > > directory containing the Miktex distribution files. The only Miktex
> > > thing I know of is the exe file, so I point it to my Desktop where I
> > > have put that file. But it says it's not a valid source file.
> > > What am I doing wrong?
> > > With thanks in advance.
>
> > Here you'll find information on installation (from the MikTeX manual):h=
ttp://docs.miktex.org/2.9/manual/installing.html
>
> I had read this but it doesn't cover the bit that is my stumbling
> block.

Can nobody help me? It occurred to me that the distribution files are
associated with the programme I am using to write my tex, which is
TeXnicCenter; but even when I point the browse box towards that, in
the programme files, still doesn't work.

Le 28/01/2011 23:11, J.Jack.J. a �crit :
> On Jan 27, 10:14 pm, "J.Jack.J."<jack.j.jep...@googlemail.com>  wrote:
>> On Jan 27, 8:21 pm, zappathustra<zappathus...@free.fr>  wrote:
>>
>>> Le 27/01/2011 20:09, J.Jack.J. a �crit :
>>>> I have downloaded Miktex but when I run it, it asks me for the
>>>> directory containing the Miktex distribution files. The only Miktex
>>>> thing I know of is the exe file, so I point it to my Desktop where I
>>>> have put that file. But it says it's not a valid source file.
>>>> What am I doing wrong?
>>>> With thanks in advance.
>>> Here you'll find information on installation (from the MikTeX manual):http://docs.miktex.org/2.9/manual/installing.html
>> I had read this but it doesn't cover the bit that is my stumbling
>> block.
> Can nobody help me? It occurred to me that the distribution files are
> associated with the programme I am using to write my tex, which is
> TeXnicCenter; but even when I point the browse box towards that, in
> the programme files, still doesn't work.

Oh no, MikTeX and TeXnicCenter are completely unrelated.
Perhaps it'd be easier to help if you specified which MikTeX installer 
you're using (basic or net) and described the steps you take when 
installing. I used MikTeX before but haven't kept a pristine memory of 
its installation.

Best,
Paul

On Jan 28, 10:17=A0pm, zappathustra <zappathus...@free.fr> wrote:
> Le 28/01/2011 23:11, J.Jack.J. a =E9crit :
>
>
>
> > On Jan 27, 10:14 pm, "J.Jack.J."<jack.j.jep...@googlemail.com> =A0wrote=
:
> >> On Jan 27, 8:21 pm, zappathustra<zappathus...@free.fr> =A0wrote:
>
> >>> Le 27/01/2011 20:09, J.Jack.J. a =E9crit :
> >>>> I have downloaded Miktex but when I run it, it asks me for the
> >>>> directory containing the Miktex distribution files. The only Miktex
> >>>> thing I know of is the exe file, so I point it to my Desktop where I
> >>>> have put that file. But it says it's not a valid source file.
> >>>> What am I doing wrong?
> >>>> With thanks in advance.
> >>> Here you'll find information on installation (from the MikTeX manual)=
:http://docs.miktex.org/2.9/manual/installing.html
> >> I had read this but it doesn't cover the bit that is my stumbling
> >> block.
> > Can nobody help me? It occurred to me that the distribution files are
> > associated with the programme I am using to write my tex, which is
> > TeXnicCenter; but even when I point the browse box towards that, in
> > the programme files, still doesn't work.
>
> Oh no, MikTeX and TeXnicCenter are completely unrelated.
> Perhaps it'd be easier to help if you specified which MikTeX installer
> you're using (basic or net) and described the steps you take when
> installing. I used MikTeX before but haven't kept a pristine memory of
> its installation.
>
> Best,
> Paul

I have been trying with both. At one point I had it looking like it
was going to be successful, what with its downloading lots of things
for quite a long time, but
a) right at the very end, it said it failed because it couldn't
connect with the server (even though the server wasn't down) and
b) I can't remember what I did to get there.

With thanks.

Le 29/01/2011 00:48, J.Jack.J. a �crit :
> On Jan 28, 10:17 pm, zappathustra<zappathus...@free.fr>  wrote:
>> Le 28/01/2011 23:11, J.Jack.J. a �crit :
>>
>>
>>
>>> On Jan 27, 10:14 pm, "J.Jack.J."<jack.j.jep...@googlemail.com>    wrote:
>>>> On Jan 27, 8:21 pm, zappathustra<zappathus...@free.fr>    wrote:
>>>>> Le 27/01/2011 20:09, J.Jack.J. a �crit :
>>>>>> I have downloaded Miktex but when I run it, it asks me for the
>>>>>> directory containing the Miktex distribution files. The only Miktex
>>>>>> thing I know of is the exe file, so I point it to my Desktop where I
>>>>>> have put that file. But it says it's not a valid source file.
>>>>>> What am I doing wrong?
>>>>>> With thanks in advance.
>>>>> Here you'll find information on installation (from the MikTeX manual):http://docs.miktex.org/2.9/manual/installing.html
>>>> I had read this but it doesn't cover the bit that is my stumbling
>>>> block.
>>> Can nobody help me? It occurred to me that the distribution files are
>>> associated with the programme I am using to write my tex, which is
>>> TeXnicCenter; but even when I point the browse box towards that, in
>>> the programme files, still doesn't work.
>> Oh no, MikTeX and TeXnicCenter are completely unrelated.
>> Perhaps it'd be easier to help if you specified which MikTeX installer
>> you're using (basic or net) and described the steps you take when
>> installing. I used MikTeX before but haven't kept a pristine memory of
>> its installation.
>>
>> Best,
>> Paul
> I have been trying with both. At one point I had it looking like it
> was going to be successful, what with its downloading lots of things
> for quite a long time, but
> a) right at the very end, it said it failed because it couldn't
> connect with the server (even though the server wasn't down) and
> b) I can't remember what I did to get there.

Trying with both? Which download failed? If I remember correctly, the 
Basic is self-contained, so once you have it it should install.
The MikTeX doc says downloading can be resolved if interrupted. Have you 
tried that? It looks like the installer can't find the files because 
they haven't been completely downloaded.
Otherwise I'd recommend to start back from the beginning, although I'll 
admit it takes time.

Best,
Paul

On 27/01/11 19:09, J.Jack.J. wrote:
> I have downloaded Miktex but when I run it, it asks me for the
> directory containing the Miktex distribution files. The only Miktex
> thing I know of is the exe file, so I point it to my Desktop where I
> have put that file. But it says it's not a valid source file.
> What am I doing wrong?

I've never seen this, but the easier way round it is to install proTeXt 
(a portmanteau package of MikTeX, TeXnicCenter, Ghostscript, and GSview) 
which installs every time I've used it.

http://tug.org/protext/ or use the TeX Collection 2010 DVD

///Peter