Windows interactive Python

1. Open a command prompt:
   
   • On Windows 8, click the Start menu (or hit the windows key), type PowerShell (which will open the Search field) and hit enter.
   • On Windows Vista or Windows 7: click on the Start menu (the Windows logo in the lower left of the screen), type PowerShell into the Search field directly above the Start menu button, and click on "Powershell" in the search results above the Search field.
2. To start Python, type

   python

   at the command prompt and hit enter. You should see something like

   Python 2.7.1 (r271:86832, ...) on win32
   Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
   >>>
   

   The >>> indicates that you are at a Python prompt.

3. Exit the Python prompt by typing

   exit()

   and hitting enter. Now you're back at the Windows command prompt (C:\).

Success!

Practice these steps until you feel comfortable navigating to a command prompt, starting Python, and exiting Python.