import matplotlib._png as _png Import: Error: DLL load failed: The specified module could not be found

Question

I use the Anaconda Python distribution: Python 2.7 x64 with Windows 7 SP1 x64 Ultimate.

When I do import matplotlib.pyplot I get ImportError: DLL load

Answer 1

Ensure you have closed all python stuff when you run this. Using the following code at the command prompt (not ipython prompt) produces an environment named "working" with Anaconda 2.2.0, Cython 0.22, Numpy 1.9.2 py33_0, Pandas 0.15.2, and Python 3.3.5.

conda create -n working python=3 anaconda

To then use the environment run

activate working

Now you can launch ipython or notebook and (at a minimum) matplotlib should import.