easy_install in windows XP with error "Not a recognized archive type"

This error "Not a recognized archive type" happens on one Windows XP machine but Never happen on another one. It's so weird!

My python i开发者_JS百科s 2.5, did I miss something in my windows?

there is a good chance you have a file or directory in your path that has the same name with the package you are trying to install, like:

easy_install ali    
# Processing ali
# error: Not a recognized archive type: ali

this is because I have an ./ali in the same directory or on the path that I am running the easy_install command from

This has happened to me when I've accidentally renamed the setuptools egg after or during downloading ... Downloading and reinstalling has always fixed it. :)

Instructions here: http://pypi.python.org/pypi/setuptools