Pip not working in base conda environment

Question

I have a conda installation which was working perfectly fine, until I created a new virtual environment using venv.Now pip wont work.

In base conda environment:

(base) D:\ML Projects>pip --version
Script file 'D:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\Scripts\pip-script.py' is not present.

In a virtual environment :

(base) D:\ML Projects>pytorch\Scripts\activate

(pytorch) (base) D:\ML Projects>pip --version
pip 20.1.1 from d:\ml projects\pytorch\lib\site-packages\pip (python 3.7)

(pytorch) (base) D:\ML Projects>

These are the things that i have tried:

1. Tried reinstalling pip using conda:

(base) C:\Users\Me>conda install pip
Collecting package metadata (current_repodata.json): done
Solving environment: done

# All requested packages already installed.

2. upgrdaing using pip(Gives different responses):

Response1:

WARNING: Ignoring invalid distribution -ip (d:\programdata\anaconda3\lib\site-packages)
WARNING: Ignoring invalid distribution - (d:\programdata\anaconda3\lib\site-packages)
WARNING: Ignoring invalid distribution -ip (d:\programdata\anaconda3\lib\site-packages)
WARNING: Ignoring invalid distribution - (d:\programdata\anaconda3\lib\site-packages)
Requirement already satisfied: pip in d:\programdata\anaconda3\lib\site-packages (21.1.1)
Collecting pip
  Using cached pip-21.1.2-py3-none-any.whl (1.5 MB)
WARNING: Ignoring invalid distribution -ip (d:\programdata\anaconda3\lib\site-packages)
WARNING: Ignoring invalid distribution - (d:\programdata\anaconda3\lib\site-packages)
Installing collected packages: pip
  Attempting uninstall: pip
    WARNING: Ignoring invalid distribution -ip (d:\programdata\anaconda3\lib\site-packages)
    WARNING: Ignoring invalid distribution - (d:\programdata\anaconda3\lib\site-packages)
    Found existing installation: pip 21.1.1
    Uninstalling pip-21.1.1:
ERROR: Could not install packages due to an OSError: [WinError 5] Access is denied: 'd:\\programdata\\anaconda3\\scripts\\pip.exe'
Consider using the `--user` option or check the permissions.

WARNING: Ignoring invalid distribution -ip (d:\programdata\anaconda3\lib\site-packages)
WARNING: Ignoring invalid distribution - (d:\programdata\anaconda3\lib\site-packages)
WARNING: Ignoring invalid distribution -ip (d:\programdata\anaconda3\lib\site-packages)
WARNING: Ignoring invalid distribution - (d:\programdata\anaconda3\lib\site-packages)
WARNING: Ignoring invalid distribution -ip (d:\programdata\anaconda3\lib\site-packages)
WARNING: Ignoring invalid distribution - (d:\programdata\anaconda3\lib\site-packages)

Respnse2:

(base) C:\Users\Me>pip install --upgrade pip --user
Script file 'D:\ProgramData\Anaconda3\Scripts\pip-script.py' is not present.

Also, Have i broken my installation? If yes, is there any way to fix it?

Answer 1

Clearing your pip cache first might help.

In your base environment, try running:

py -m pip cache purge
py -m pip install -U pip

Then check the output of pip --version. If this still doesn't work, you may need to uninstall and reinstall Anaconda.