# (Installed Ruby 1.9.1) can't get gem working

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/installed-ruby-1-9-1-cant-get-gem-working/178732>\
**Category:** Ruby\
**Created:** [November 10, 2009, 10:15am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/installed-ruby-1-9-1-cant-get-gem-working/178732 "2009-11-10T10:15:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![michelle1](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@michelle1](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/michelle1)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 10:15am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/installed-ruby-1-9-1-cant-get-gem-working/178732/1 "2009-11-10T10:15:03Z")

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Hello,

RUBY VERSION: ruby 1.9.1 (2008-10-28 revision 19983) [i386-mswin32]

SYSTEM(S): Windows XP Laptop; Windows XP Desktop

PROBLEM: ‘gem’ does not work on my desktop but does on my laptop despite  
identical installations. On my Desktop I get this message for any gem  
command I run:

C:/\>gem -v  
C:/ruby1.9/lib/ruby/1.9.1/yaml.rb:9:in `require': no such file to load -- stringio (LoadError) from C:/ruby1.9/lib/ruby/1.9.1/yaml.rb:9:in`\<top (required)\>’  
from C:/ruby1.9/lib/ruby/1.9.1/rubygems/config\_file.rb:7:in `require' from C:/ruby1.9/lib/ruby/1.9.1/rubygems/config_file.rb:7:in`\<top  
(required)\>’  
from C:/ruby1.9/lib/ruby/1.9.1/rubygems/gem\_runner.rb:8:in `require' from C:/ruby1.9/lib/ruby/1.9.1/rubygems/gem_runner.rb:8:in`\<top  
(required)\>’  
from C:/ruby1.9/bin/gem.bat:17:in `require' from C:/ruby1.9/bin/gem.bat:17:in`’

I also have this set on both Desktop and Laptop:

C:\>echo %RUBYOPT%  
rubygems

I’d really appreciate any suggestions on how to fix this.Thank-you in  
advance,  
Michelle

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![michelle1](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@michelle1](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/michelle1)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 11:20am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/installed-ruby-1-9-1-cant-get-gem-working/178732/2 "2009-11-10T11:20:04Z")

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Hi Michelle,

On 10/11/2009 09:15, Michelle P. wrote:

> RUBY VERSION: ruby 1.9.1 (2008-10-28 revision 19983) [i386-mswin32]

I would recommend using the new RubyInstaller instead of the old mswin32  
version. Release Candidate 1 has just been released:

[http://rubyinstaller.org/](http://rubyinstaller.org/) – note: ignore the “One-Click Installer -  
Windows” section on the downloads page, look below that to the  
“RubyInstaller” section instead.

It’s a much more reliable way of running Ruby on Windows, especially for  
1.9. If you combine it with Pik, you can easily switch between versions:

> **[GitHub - vertiginous/pik: Ruby version manager for Windows](https://github.com/vertiginous/pik)**
>
> Ruby version manager for Windows. Contribute to vertiginous/pik development by creating an account on GitHub.

Charles

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![michelle1](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@michelle1](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/michelle1)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/installed-ruby-1-9-1-cant-get-gem-working/178732/3 "2009-11-10T14:02:29Z")

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Thanks a lot Charles, works perfectly. 🙂

C:\>ruby -v  
ruby 1.9.1p243 (2009-07-16 revision 24175) [i386-mingw32]

C:\>gem -v  
1.3.5