Issue installing via Conda or PIP

[Sally-K]

I tried the first of the conda install steps to allow me to install the Panoptes GUI version in Anaconda Powershell Prompt. This and any attempts to update conda throw up this fulling error: RemoveError: 'setuptools' is a dependency of conda and cannot be removed from conda's operatingenvironment.

More detailed output of different commands and errors follow:

(base) PS C:\> conda install -c conda-forge wxpython
Retrieving notices: ...working... done
Collecting package metadata (current_repodata.json): done
Solving environment: /
==> WARNING: A newer version of conda exists. <==
  current version: 23.7.4
  latest version: 23.9.0
Please update conda by running
    $ conda update -n base -c defaults conda
Or to minimize the number of packages updated during conda update use
     conda install conda=23.9.0
## Package Plan ##
  environment location: C:\ProgramData\anaconda3
  added / updated specs:
    - wxpython
The following NEW packages will be INSTALLED:
  setuptools         conda-forge/noarch::setuptools-68.2.2-pyhd8ed1ab_0
The following packages will be UPDATED:
  openssl              pkgs/main::openssl-3.0.11-h2bbff1b_2 --> conda-forge::openssl-3.1.3-hcfcfb64_0
The following packages will be SUPERSEDED by a higher-priority channel:
  ca-certificates    pkgs/main::ca-certificates-2023.08.22~ --> conda-forge::ca-certificates-2023.7.22-h56e8100_0
Proceed ([y]/n)? y
Downloading and Extracting Packages
Preparing transaction: done
Verifying transaction: failed
RemoveError: 'setuptools' is a dependency of conda and cannot be removed from
conda's operatingenvironment. 

I tried updating conda without updating everything:

(base) PS C:\>   conda install conda=23.9.0
Collecting package metadata (current_repodata.json): done
Solving environment: \
The environment is inconsistent, please check the package plan carefully
The following packages are causing the inconsistency:
==> WARNING: A newer version of conda exists. <==
  current version: 23.7.4
  latest version: 23.9.0
Please update conda by running
    $ conda update -n base -c defaults conda
Or to minimize the number of packages updated during conda update use
     conda install conda=23.9.0
## Package Plan ##
  environment location: C:\ProgramData\anaconda3
  added / updated specs:
    - conda=23.9.0
The following NEW packages will be INSTALLED:
  setuptools         pkgs/main/win-64::setuptools-68.0.0-py311haa95532_0
Proceed ([y]/n)? y
Downloading and Extracting Packages
Preparing transaction: done
Verifying transaction: failed
RemoveError: 'setuptools' is a dependency of conda and cannot be removed from
conda's operating environment. 

Then I tried updating everything

(base) PS C:\> conda update -n base -c defaults conda
The following packages will be downloaded:
    package                    |            build
    ---------------------------|-----------------
    boost-cpp-1.82.0           |       h59b6b97_2          11 KB
    libboost-1.82.0            |       h3399ecb_2        23.1 MB
    libdeflate-1.17            |       h2bbff1b_1         153 KB
    ------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Total:        23.2 MB
The following NEW packages will be INSTALLED:
  setuptools         pkgs/main/win-64::setuptools-68.0.0-py311haa95532_0
The following packages will be UPDATED:
  boost-cpp                               1.82.0-h59b6b97_1 --> 1.82.0-h59b6b97_2
  libboost                                1.82.0-hae598e9_1 --> 1.82.0-h3399ecb_2
  libdeflate                                1.17-h2bbff1b_0 --> 1.17-h2bbff1b_1
  libpq                                    12.15-h906ac69_0 --> 12.15-h906ac69_1
Proceed ([y]/n)? y
Downloading and Extracting Packages
Preparing transaction: done
Verifying transaction: failed
RemoveError: 'setuptools' is a dependency of conda and cannot be removed from
conda's operating environment.

I'm using a PC Edition     
Windows 10 Enterprise
Version     22H2
OS build    19045.3448
Experience  Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19044.1000.0