HowTos:Install TeX on a Microsoft Windows computer

This HowTo provides basic instructions on how to install TeX on your Microsoft Windows computer.

Optional step: Install Ghoscript and GSview

If you are going to be working with postscript (ps) files or if you will be including eps images (encapsulated postscript) into your TeX document then you should consider installing Ghostscript and GSview. These programs will then allow you to preview and print postscript documents and images. You can skip this step if you are not interested in working with postscript files.

Ghostview and GSview can be downloaded for free from Home page for Ghostscript. Once there follow links for "Obtaining AFPL Ghostscript". On that page scroll down to find Windows versions of Ghostscript as well as the windows version of GSView. Make sure you install Ghostscript first.

Install TeX

In order to obtain TeX go to MikTeX's setup page, from there download and install the "Small MikTeX" installer.

This version of the installer will not add all of the possible TeX packages, for example it will not install all of the AMSTeX packages but you will be prompted for their installation when needed. After installing MikTeX you can also run the MikTeX package manager (found in MikTeX's Programs menu) and install additional packages manually.

Install a TeX editor

There are a couple of different TeX/LaTeX editors for Windows. You can start by trying out a free one: TeXnicCenter which can be downloaded by following "Download" link from ToolsCenter.org.

A lot of people like WinEdt which is a shareware TeX editor. You can read about it and buy it at WinEdt homepage.

Finally, there is also xemacs which can be used with TeX, especially with AucTeX.