# Getting started on Windows **URL:** \ **Category:** Help\ **Created:** [February 25, 2024, 10:40am UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/getting-started-on-windows/7467 "2024-02-25T10:40:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@lars](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/lars)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 7:22am UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/getting-started-on-windows/7467/21 "2024-03-01T07:22:25Z")
![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/fortran_lang/original/2X/b/b0d93326a482bae67452663ff8d35a406afd4dad.png) This is the page you are looking for. What did you select when installing? ---
**Author:** ![Shahid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/fortran-lang.discourse.group/shahid/32/3672_2.png) [@Shahid](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/Shahid)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 1:54pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/getting-started-on-windows/7467/22 "2024-03-01T13:54:09Z")
I had that too ![integration_window](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/fortran_lang/original/2X/b/ba9a4abf81367c18576e9a855a061cc0c1f1caa9.png) ---
**Author:** ![lars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@lars](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/lars)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 2:46pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/getting-started-on-windows/7467/23 "2024-03-01T14:46:24Z")
And what visual studio packages do you have installed? ---
**Author:** ![Shahid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/fortran-lang.discourse.group/shahid/32/3672_2.png) [@Shahid](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/Shahid)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 4:22pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/getting-started-on-windows/7467/24 "2024-03-01T16:22:52Z")
I did not select any optional packages. The default optional packages were about 9 GB in size, so I did not select any. ---
**Author:** ![lars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@lars](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/lars)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 6:33pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/getting-started-on-windows/7467/25 "2024-03-01T18:33:24Z")
I guess that explains it. If you select nothing you basically have an empty Visual Studio installation. I can’t remember exactly which components are required, but the “Desktop development with C++” workload I think is more than enough: ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/free1/uploads/fortran_lang/original/2X/d/d4d7b1c5470a9f693f0fcc4a77f763dd8d18dc2e.png) ---
**Author:** ![Shahid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/fortran-lang.discourse.group/shahid/32/3672_2.png) [@Shahid](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/Shahid)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2024, 3:50am UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/getting-started-on-windows/7467/26 "2024-03-02T03:50:04Z")
so the basic idea of saving space with a standalone Fortran compiler is still not achieved. To make it work, the estimated disk space is 13 GB. However, it is still better than the 60 GB ( Basic + HPC ) toolkit. ---
**Author:** ![PierU](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/fortran-lang.discourse.group/pieru/32/1848_2.png) [@PierU](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/PierU)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2024, 5:49pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/getting-started-on-windows/7467/27 "2024-03-11T17:49:05Z")
> [@vmagnin](#): > > > [@Jweber](#): > > > > I would suggest using the [MSYS2](https://www.msys2.org/) distribution , a system similar to cygwin, but more “native” Windows. > > Yes, MSYS2 is the easiest solution for Unix guys. Those notes could help you for installing gfortran, fpm and other classic tools: [https://github.com/vmagnin/gtk-fortran/wiki/Installation#windows](https://github.com/vmagnin/gtk-fortran/wiki/Installation#windows) > > And also WSL2, but I have not tried it yet, MSYS2 being sufficient for my needs. I have installed MSYS2 and the needed packages: everything is OK, and that’s just all what I need at the moment. Moreover no admin right is required for the main installation or for the packages, so I could install it on my company laptop without bothering with the IT helpdesk… ---
**Author:** ![vmagnin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/free1/user_avatar/fortran-lang.discourse.group/vmagnin/32/28_2.png) [@vmagnin](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/vmagnin)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/getting-started-on-windows/7467/28 "2024-03-11T17:58:50Z")
> [@PierU](#): > > I have installed MSYS2 and the needed packages: everything is OK, and that’s just all what I need at the moment. Note that MSYS2 is rather slow, maybe due to filesystems differences (?). And I suspect that antivirus or antimalware softwares are also slowing it. But concerning CPU calculations, I think it is not impeded. Anyway, it is a good choice for someone coming from the Unix world and wanting to work immediately the same way as usual but in Windows… Note also that using the newer UCRT64 is better than MINGW64: [Environments - MSYS2](https://www.msys2.org/docs/environments/) ---
**Author:** ![Awb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@Awb](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/u/Awb)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 9:12pm UTC](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/getting-started-on-windows/7467/29 "2026-04-14T21:12:53Z")
The Winteracter Fortran GUI Toolset is now available free of charge. "The toolset is now maintained on a non-commercial, voluntarily supported basis. Users who held an up to date (v16.0) licence at the time of the I.S.S. closure can obtain the latest version, via this site and can post support queries in the forum. Other users can request an unsupported licence here". [Winteracter - Licence Request](https://winteracter.uk/licrequest.php) . The Winteracter product page: > **[Winteracter - Home](https://winteracter.uk/)** > > Winteracter The Fortran GUI Toolset (Information from the Winteracter home page): Winteracter is a graphics and GUI toolset for Fortran 90 or later. It was originally developed and sold by Interactive Software Services Ltd. between 1997 and 2024, growing out of the earlier I.S.S. INTERACTER package (1989-2001). It comprises various visual development tools and a substantial subroutine library, which is compatible with many modern Fortran compilers. [Previous page](https://fortran-lang.discourse.group/t/getting-started-on-windows/7467.md?page=1)