installing cygwin: setup.ini missing from http://mirrors.kernel.org

Question

I'm trying to install cygwin on a windows 2008 server. I managed to get a hold of the cygwin setup.exe version 2.721.
Since cygwin.com is down at the moment, i tried several mirrors found through the google cache of the cygwin mirrors. I ran into the same problem like this guy: Help needed installing cygwin: may be ini file problem
Like they suggested, I tried http://mirrors.kernel.org as mirror. It downloads some setup.bz files fine. Then I get the error "Unable to get setup.ini from http://mirrors.kernel.org/".
Any suggestions how to install cygwin now?

Answer 1

I got this error when I tried to use http://cygwin.com/setup.exe and not http://cygwin.com/setup-x86.exe or http://cygwin.com/setup-x86_64.exe. It seems the mirrors have just recently removed support for setup.exe. The setup.exe is still available to download but none of the mirrors work.

The solution is to use either the setup-x86.exe or the setup-x86_64.exe.

Answer 2

The mirror should be the full path http://mirrors.kernel.org/sourceware/cygwin

If you get complaints about the .ini being from a newer version of setup, you'll need to find a newer setup.exe somewhere on the net that you trust. (And cygwin guys? Grrr for not including setup.exe in your mirrors and for not signing your exe!)

Answer 3

the reason is so simple:

the setup.ini changed its's location!

just go to cygwin site, download the latest setup.exe file. it will be OK.

Answer 4

While installing, select Install through http/ftp proxy. Firewall may block the installation. Hence, proxy will help. Also try running as Administrator.

It helps..

Regards, Frank..!!

Answer 5

For those who are still getting this error even with the correct installer, make sure that you're running the setup file on your local hard drive.

My problem was that I was trying to launch the executable from a mapped network drive. Copying down and running the program locally fixed the issue.

Answer 6

Can you use another mirror? Try lug.mtu.edu or something like that. I've always had nothing but good results from there.

Answer 7

Was giving me the same Unable to get setup from ... error. I used the new setup-x86_64.exe from the Cygwin.org site & had to select the option Use Internet Explorer Proxy Settings.

It fetched the mirror urls. It worked that way for me.

But, if it does not fetch all the mirrors by itself, we can add the url http://mirrors.kernel.org in the Download list.

Initially, when it was not downloading the mirrors list by itself, I had tried adding the above http://mirrors.kernel.org url manually & it had worked that way too.

Answer 8

Was facing the Same issue... Run the installer in administrator mode and set the FTP/HTTP proxy to the proxy setting configured in internet explorer. Later if the download doesn't occur try different proxies. Selecting this mirror http://mirrors.kernel.org worked for me.