Unable to create process at all with virtual environment binary #2244

WizzyGeek · 2021-12-09T12:25:18Z

WizzyGeek
Dec 9, 2021

Context

Python Install - c:\users\username withspace\appdata\local\programs\python\python39\python.exe
Project Location - C:\.dev\project

Project Directory Tree

├───.venv
│   └───[Standard virtualenv tree]
├───package
│   ├───__init__.py
│   └───__main__.py
├───README.md
├───pyproject.toml
└───setup.cfg

Command used to generate venv - virtualenv .venv/
OS - Windows 11 21H2 Build 22000.346
Python - Python 3.9.4 (tags/v3.9.4:1f2e308, Apr 6 2021, 13:40:21) [MSC v.1928 64 bit (AMD64)] on win32

Issue

So I created a virtual env on windows 11
with virtualenv .venv/

C:\.dev\trainer>virtualenv .venv/ 
created virtual environment CPython3.9.4.final.0-64 in 1402ms
  creator CPython3Windows(dest=C:\.dev\trainer\.venv, clear=False, no_vcs_ignore=False, global=False)
  seeder FromAppData(download=False, pip=bundle, setuptools=bundle, wheel=bundle, via=copy, app_data_dir=C:\Users\username withspace\AppData\Local\pypa\virtualenv)
    added seed packages: pip==21.3.1, setuptools==58.3.0, wheel==0.37.0
  activators BashActivator,BatchActivator,FishActivator,NushellActivator,PowerShellActivator,PythonActivator

Then I proceeded to activate and use the virtual environment

PS C:\.dev\trainer> & c:/.dev/trainer/.venv/Scripts/Activate.ps1
(.venv) PS C:\.dev\trainer> python
Unable to create process using 'c:\users\username withspace\appdata\local\programs\python\python39\python.exe'
(.venv) PS C:\.dev\trainer> pip
Unable to create process using 'C:\Users\username withspace\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python39\python.exe "C:\.dev\trainer\.venv\Scripts\pip.exe" '

The launcher completely fails to launch python

Things Tried

py -3.9 -m pip install distlib -U
py -3.9 -m pip install pip -U
py -3.9 -m pip install virtualenv -U

py -3.9 -m venv .venv/ (over the existing virtualenv created by virtualenv .venv/)

(.venv) PS C:\.dev\trainer> py -3.9 -m venv .venv/
Error: Command '['C:\\.dev\\trainer\\.venv\\Scripts\\python.exe', '-Im', 'ensurepip', '--upgrade', '--default-pip']' returned non-zero exit status 101.

py -3.9 -m venv .venv/ --without-pip
Passes but the problem still persists

(.venv) PS C:\.dev\trainer> py -3.9 -m venv .venv/ --without-pip
(.venv) PS C:\.dev\trainer> python
Unable to create process using 'C:\Users\username withspace\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python39\python.exe'

I have been juggling between various issues until I decided to ask a question here.
Does anyone have any idea what is causing this issue? and how can I fix it?