# Running both Ruby 1.8 and 1.9 on same windows machine **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [February 17, 2010, 4:17am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/running-both-ruby-1-8-and-1-9-on-same-windows-machine/183598 "2010-02-17T04:17:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alexd](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@alexd](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/alexd)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 4:17am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/running-both-ruby-1-8-and-1-9-on-same-windows-machine/183598/1 "2010-02-17T04:17:38Z")
I want to try out Ruby 1.9, but don’t want to go whole hog since I have a lot of programs that run just fine with 1.8. I also use RMagick, which seems not to work with 1.9 yet. Can I have both versions of Ruby installed in the Windows environment, but have 1.8 be the default for running Ruby programs? Are there any tricks or tips for doing this? I’m worried about conflict/errors that may arise. –Alex DeCaria ---
**Author:** ![alexd](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@alexd](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/alexd)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 4:44am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/running-both-ruby-1-8-and-1-9-on-same-windows-machine/183598/2 "2010-02-17T04:44:21Z")
On 17/2/2010 11:17 AM, Alex DeCaria wrote: > I want to try out Ruby 1.9, but don’t want to go whole hog since I have > a lot of programs that run just fine with 1.8. I also use RMagick, > which seems not to work with 1.9 yet. > > Can I have both versions of Ruby installed in the Windows environment, > but have 1.8 be the default for running Ruby programs? Are there any > tricks or tips for doing this? I’m worried about conflict/errors that > may arise. When I asked a very similar question, the response I got from Phillip Gawlowski was: Just download and install 1.9 from [rubyinstaller.org](http://rubyinstaller.org). It installs Ruby 1.9 in its own directory by default, so that 1.8.x and 1.9 can coexist happily. You can then install pik, for example (gem install pik), which allows you to switch Ruby interpreters (for one console session only) on the fly, and you can run your tests. This, sans pik, is my own setup, and it works rather well. …and it works great for me so far. Hope this helps. Cheers, Mohit. 17/2/2010 | 11:42 AM. ---
**Author:** ![alexd](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@alexd](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/alexd)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 10:25am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/running-both-ruby-1-8-and-1-9-on-same-windows-machine/183598/3 "2010-02-17T10:25:33Z")
On Feb 17, 4:17 am, Alex DeCaria [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > I want to try out Ruby 1.9, but don’t want to go whole hog since I have > a lot of programs that run just fine with 1.8. I also use RMagick, > which seems not to work with 1.9 yet. > > Can I have both versions of Ruby installed in the Windows environment, > but have 1.8 be the default for running Ruby programs? Are there any > tricks or tips for doing this? I’m worried about conflict/errors that > may arise. Just download RC2 version of RubyInstaller for 1.9: > **[RubyInstaller for Windows](https://rubyinstaller.org/)** > > The easy way to install Ruby on Windows This is a self-contained Windows-based installer that includes the Ruby language, an execution environment, important... It will install by default into “Ruby19” at the root of your system drive (generally C:) By default, it will not change the settings of your environment, and you can start it from the customized command prompt shortcut that is created inside All Programs menu. HTH, ---
**Author:** ![alexd](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@alexd](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/alexd)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/running-both-ruby-1-8-and-1-9-on-same-windows-machine/183598/4 "2010-02-17T14:13:44Z")
Is there an .exe file for 1.9 ? I want to try out 1.9 on windows, but I am very much used to the old .exe I am a bit shy to fiddle with MinGW ---
**Author:** ![alexd](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@alexd](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/alexd)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 2:06pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/running-both-ruby-1-8-and-1-9-on-same-windows-machine/183598/5 "2010-02-17T14:06:21Z")
As far as installing and updating Ruby gems for the 1.9 version, if I do that from the 1.9 command window that I open, will it then install them in the 1.9 directory and not affect the 1.8 version? So, I can keep two versions of gems separate as well? –Alex ---
**Author:** ![alexd](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@alexd](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/alexd)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/running-both-ruby-1-8-and-1-9-on-same-windows-machine/183598/6 "2010-02-17T15:31:09Z")
On Feb 17, 2010, at 7:06 AM, Alex DeCaria wrote: > As far as installing and updating Ruby gems for the 1.9 version, if I do > that from the 1.9 command window that I open, will it then install them > in the 1.9 directory and not affect the 1.8 version? So, I can keep two > versions of gems separate as well? > –Alex Yes, that is the case. I run both 1.8.6 and 1.9.1 on my Windows boxes with completely separate gem installations. I did not have to do any extra work to accomplish this. The rubyinstallers are really great! cr ---
**Author:** ![alexd](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@alexd](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/alexd)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/running-both-ruby-1-8-and-1-9-on-same-windows-machine/183598/7 "2010-02-17T22:12:12Z")
On Feb 17, 2:13 pm, Marc H. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Is there an .exe file for 1.9 ? By exe you mean installer? Pointed before: > **[RubyInstaller for Windows](https://rubyinstaller.org/)** > > The easy way to install Ruby on Windows This is a self-contained Windows-based installer that includes the Ruby language, an execution environment, important... > I want to try out 1.9 on windows, but I am very much used to the old > exe Then I would recommend download binaries from here: [http://www.garbagecollect.jp/ruby/mswin32/en/download/release.html](http://www.garbagecollect.jp/ruby/mswin32/en/download/release.html) And follow instructions from here: [http://www.garbagecollect.jp/ruby/mswin32/en/documents/install.html](http://www.garbagecollect.jp/ruby/mswin32/en/documents/install.html) Try locate the specific versions of these components and get it working. The reasoning behind there is no One-Click Installer for Ruby 1.9 is described here: [http://wiki.github.com/oneclick/rubyinstaller/faq](http://wiki.github.com/oneclick/rubyinstaller/faq) And more specifically here: [http://wiki.github.com/oneclick/rubyinstaller/faq#bundled\_short](http://wiki.github.com/oneclick/rubyinstaller/faq#bundled_short) [http://wiki.github.com/oneclick/rubyinstaller/faq#bundled\_long](http://wiki.github.com/oneclick/rubyinstaller/faq#bundled_long) > I am a bit shy to fiddle with MinGW There is no need to fiddle with MinGW, read the tutorials: [http://wiki.github.com/oneclick/rubyinstaller/tutorials](http://wiki.github.com/oneclick/rubyinstaller/tutorials) And one that even has pretty pictures: [http://geeksharp.com/2010/01/18/windows-ruby-native-gems-1-9-1/](http://geeksharp.com/2010/01/18/windows-ruby-native-gems-1-9-1/) Cheers,