Installing GNU Emacs for Windows

How can I install GNU Emacs for Windows?

Note: Before installing GNU Emacs for Windows, be sure that you have a compression/de-compression program capable of reading .TAR files. A common program is WinZip, avaiable at http://www.winzip.com/ or at http://www.download.com/ . This FAQ demonstrates using WinZip.

1. Using My Computer or Windows Explorer, open the folder to which you saved the emacs-20.4-bin-i386.tgz file. Double-click the file. You will see the following:
   
   
   
   Answer "Yes" when prompted to decompress the file.



2. When the WinZip window appears, click the "EXTRACT" button:
   
   



3. In the "EXTRACT TO" field, enter the letter of your hard drive, followed by a colon (":"), followed by a backslash ("\") and then choose the "EXTRACT" button:
   
   



4. A folder will be created off the root directory of your hard drive called "emacs-20.7". Rename the folder to "emacs" by highlighting the folder, clicking the secondary (usually right) mouse button and choosing "RENAME" from the pop-up menu:
   
   



5. Open the folder "EMACS" and then create the site-lisp and lock sub-folders by going to the File Menu and then choosing "NEW ... FOLDER":
   
   



6. Close all programs, shut down your computer and then re-start it.
   
   
7. If you want to make a shortcut on the desktop for Emacs, open the C:\emacs\bin\ folder (where c:\ is the letter of your hard-drive). Right click and HOLD on the runemacs.exe icon:
   
   



8. As you are right-clicking and HOLDING the runemacs.exe icon, drag the icon to the Desktop. Realease the mouse. You will see a shorcut menu. Choose "Create Shortcut(s) Here" from the shortcut menu. You can rename the shortcut "Emacs", if you like: