Preparing your computer¶
Before installing Ollama Easy GUI, you need to prepare your computer with three support programs. Don't worry if you don't know them: I'll guide you step by step.
Prerequisites overview¶
| Program | What it's for | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|
| Ollama | Runs AI models on your computer | 5 minutes |
| Git | Downloads the application from the internet | 3 minutes |
| Node.js | Runs the graphical interface | 3 minutes |
Check first
You might already have some of these programs installed. To verify, open Command Prompt (search for "cmd" in the Start menu) and type the commands indicated in each section.
Installing Ollama¶
Ollama is the "engine" that runs AI models. Without Ollama, the graphical interface would have nothing to run.
Procedure for Windows¶
- Go to ollama.ai
- Click the Download for Windows button
- Run the downloaded file and follow the installation instructions
- When finished, Ollama will start automatically (you'll see a small icon in the notification area)
Verify the installation¶
Open Command Prompt and type:
ollama --version
If you see a version number (e.g. "ollama version 0.5.4"), the installation was successful.
Download a first model¶
Ollama alone doesn't include AI models: you need to download at least one. To start, I recommend llama3.2 which is lightweight and works well on most computers.
In Command Prompt type:
ollama pull llama3.2
The download takes a few minutes (the model is about 2 GB). Once completed, the model will be available forever on your computer.
Alternative models
You can download other models later directly from the Ollama Easy GUI interface, without using Command Prompt.
Installing Git¶
Git is a tool that developers use to share software. In our case, it's used to download Ollama Easy GUI from GitHub, the site where the code is published.
Procedure for Windows¶
- Go to git-scm.com
- Click on Download for Windows
- Run the downloaded file
- During installation, you can leave all default options (click "Next" until the end)
Verify the installation¶
Close and reopen Command Prompt (important: it must be a new window), then type:
git --version
If you see something like "git version 2.47.1", Git is installed correctly.
Installing Node.js¶
Node.js is an environment that allows running applications written in JavaScript. Ollama Easy GUI uses Node.js to run its graphical interface.
Procedure for Windows¶
- Go to nodejs.org
- Download the LTS version (Long Term Support), the one recommended for most users
- Run the downloaded file and follow the instructions
Verify the installation¶
Close and reopen Command Prompt, then type:
node --version
You should see a version number (e.g. "v22.12.0"). If the number starts with 16 or higher, you're all set.
Summary¶
If you followed all the steps, you now have:
- [x] Ollama installed and running
- [x] At least one AI model downloaded (llama3.2)
- [x] Git ready to download software
- [x] Node.js ready to run the application
You're ready to install Ollama Easy GUI. Move on to the next chapter.
Problems?
If something doesn't work, check the Troubleshooting section. The most common problems involve administrator permissions during installation or the need to restart the computer.