Calling 'py' from other languages calls invalid path to 'py'

[vlad-emelyanov]

Crash report

The Python Launcher (version 3.11.7966.0) that comes with Python 3.11.0 crashes because it resolves 'py' to a path that doesn't exist (C:\Users{USERNAME}\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python311\py) when launched as a subprocess from another programming language (tested in C# and Rust). It appears to look for py.exe in the installation location of python.exe, however 'py.exe' is not present there. The below error is thrown even if Python 3.11.0 is uninstalled (leaving only Python 3.10.5) but the 3.11 launcher is still present. This error does not get thrown by the 3.10 or earlier launcher (even if Python 3.11 is installed). This is 10/10 reproducible on every Windows machine we've tested on. This is not reproducible by calling 'py' directly on the command line, or with a Python 'subprocess.Popen()' call.

Reproduction steps:

1. Install the Python 3.11.0 x64 Windows installer, including the Python launcher
2. Run the following sample C# program

using System.Diagnostics;

namespace TestApp {
class Program {
static void Main(string[] args) {
var p = new Process {
StartInfo = {
FileName = "py",
ArgumentList = { "--version" },
}
};
p.Start();
p.WaitForExit();
}
}
}

Error messages

Unable to create process using 'C:\Users\vemelyanov\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python311\py" --version': The system cannot find the file specified.

This error seems to come from the launcher itself, not the executing program (i.e. C# or Rust). If the C# program above calls a command that actually doesn't exist on the system, it will throw a 'System.ComponentModel.Win32Exception (2): The system cannot find the file specified.' instead of logging the above message.

Your environment

• CPython versions tested on: 3.10.5, 3.11.0
• Operating system and architecture: Window

[eryksun]

This is a duplicate of #99442, a bug with handling a command line that starts with quoted "py".

[kumaraditya303]

Duplicate of #99442