diff --git a/scripts/windows/PythonHelpers.nsh b/scripts/windows/PythonHelpers.nsh
index 33419edd864..5650060fc95 100644
--- a/scripts/windows/PythonHelpers.nsh
+++ b/scripts/windows/PythonHelpers.nsh
@@ -1,29 +1,31 @@
 
 !include TextFunc.nsh
 
-# ${GetPythonInstall} VERSION $(user_var: INSTALL_PREFIX) $(user_var: INSTALL_MODE)
+# ${GetPythonInstallPEP514} COMPANY TAG $(user_var: INSTALL_PREFIX) $(user_var: INSTALL_MODE)
 #
-# Retrive the registered install prefix for Python
-# - input: VERSION is a Major.Minor version number
+# Retrive the registered install prefix for Python (as documented by PEP 514)
+# - input: COMPANY distibutor (use PythonCore for default pyhton.org
+#          distributed python)
+# - input: TAG environemnt tag (e.g 3.6 or 3.6-32; sys.winver for PythonCore)
 # - output: INSTALL_PREFIX installation path (e.g C:\Python35) or empty if
 #           not found
 # - output: INSTALL_MODE
-#           1 if Python was installed for all users or 0 if
-#           current user only (-1 when not installed).
+#           1 if Python was installed for all users, 0 if
+#           current user only or -1 when not found.
 #
 # Example
 # -------
-# ${GetPythonInstall} 3.5 $PythonDir $InstallMode
-
+# ${GetPythonInstallPEP14} PythonCore 3.5 $PythonDir $InstallMode
+# ${GetPythonInstallPEP14} ContinuumAnalytics Anaconda36-64 $1 $2
 
-!macro __GET_PYTHON_INSTALL VERSION INSTALL_PREFIX INSTALL_MODE
+!macro __GET_PYTHON_INSTALL_PEP514 COMPANY TAG INSTALL_PREFIX INSTALL_MODE
     ReadRegStr ${INSTALL_PREFIX} \
-        HKCU Software\Python\PythonCore\${VERSION}\InstallPath ""
+        HKCU Software\Python\${COMPANY}\${TAG}\InstallPath ""
     ${If} ${INSTALL_PREFIX} != ""
         StrCpy ${INSTALL_MODE} 0
     ${Else}
         ReadRegStr ${INSTALL_PREFIX} \
-            HKLM Software\Python\PythonCore\${VERSION}\InstallPath ""
+            HKLM Software\Python\${COMPANY}\${TAG}\InstallPath ""
         ${If} ${INSTALL_PREFIX} != ""
             StrCpy ${INSTALL_MODE} 1
         ${Else}
@@ -43,14 +45,42 @@
         Pop $0
      ${EndIf}
 !macroend
-!define GetPythonInstall "!insertmacro __GET_PYTHON_INSTALL"
+!define GetPythonInstallPEP514 "!insertmacro __GET_PYTHON_INSTALL_PEP514"
+
+
+# ${GetPythonInstall} VERSION BITS $(user_var: INSTALL_PREFIX) $(user_var: INSTALL_MODE)
+#
+# Retrive the registered install prefix for Python
+# - input: VERSION is a Major.Minor version number
+# - input: BITS is 32 or 64 constant speciying which python arch to lookup
+# - output: INSTALL_PREFIX installation path (e.g C:\Python35) or empty if
+#           not found
+# - output: INSTALL_MODE
+#           1 if Python was installed for all users, 0 if
+#           current user only or -1 when not found.
+#
+# Example
+# -------
+# ${GetPythonInstall} 3.5 64 $PythonDir $InstallMode
 
+!macro __GET_PYTHON_INSTALL VERSION BITS INSTALL_PREFIX INSTALL_MODE
+    !if ${VERSION} < 3.5
+        !define __TAG ${VERSION}
+    !else if ${BITS} == 64
+        !define __TAG ${VERSION}
+    !else
+        !define __TAG ${VERSION}-${BITS}
+    !endif
+    ${GetPythonInstallPEP514} PythonCore ${__TAG} ${INSTALL_PREFIX} ${INSTALL_MODE}
+    !undef __TAG
+!macroend
+!define GetPythonInstall "!insertmacro __GET_PYTHON_INSTALL"
 
 # ${GetAnacondaInstall} VERSIONTAG BITS $(user_var: INSTALL_PREFIX) $(user_var: INSTALL_MODE)
 #
 # Retrive the registered install prefix for Python
 # - input: VERSIONTAG is a MajorMinor version number (no dots)
-# - input: BITS 34 or 64 (constant!)
+# - input: BITS 34 or 64 (constant)
 # - output: INSTALL_PREFIX installation path (e.g C:\Python35)
 # - output: INSTALL_MODE
 #           1 if Python was installed for all users or 0 if
@@ -58,41 +88,12 @@
 #
 # Example
 # -------
-# ${GetPythonInstall} 3.5 $PythonDir $InstallMode
+# ${GetAnacondaInstall} 35 64 $PythonDir $InstallMode
 
 !macro __GET_CONDA_INSTALL VERSION_TAG BITS INSTALL_PREFIX INSTALL_MODE
-    !define __CONDA_REG_PREFIX \
-        Software\Python\ContinuumAnalytics\Anaconda${VERSION_TAG}-${BITS}
-
-    !if "${BITS}" != 32
-    !if "${BITS}" != 64
-        !error "BITS must be a 32 or 64 constant"
-    !endif
-    !endif
-    ReadRegStr ${INSTALL_PREFIX} HKCU ${__CONDA_REG_PREFIX}\InstallPath ""
-    ${If} ${INSTALL_PREFIX} != ""
-        StrCpy ${INSTALL_MODE} 0
-    ${Else}
-        ReadRegStr ${INSTALL_PREFIX} HKLM ${__CONDA_REG_PREFIX}\InstallPath ""
-        ${If} ${INSTALL_PREFIX} != ""
-            StrCpy ${INSTALL_MODE} 1
-        ${Else}
-            StrCpy ${INSTALL_MODE} 0
-        ${EndIf}
-    ${EndIf}
-
-    ${If} ${INSTALL_PREFIX} != ""
-        # Strip (single) trailing '\' if present
-        Push $0
-        StrCpy $0 ${INSTALL_PREFIX} "" -1
-        ${If} $0 == "\"
-            StrLen $0 ${INSTALL_PREFIX}
-            IntOp $0 $0 - 1
-            StrCpy ${INSTALL_PREFIX} ${INSTALL_PREFIX} $0 0
-        ${EndIf}
-        Pop $0
-     ${EndIf}
-    !undef __CONDA_REG_PREFIX
+    !define __TAG Anaconda${VERSION_TAG}-${BITS}
+    ${GetPythonInstallPEP514} ContinuumAnalytics ${__TAG} ${INSTALL_PREFIX} ${INSTALL_MODE}
+    !undef __TAG
 !macroend
 !define GetAnacondaInstall "!insertmacro __GET_CONDA_INSTALL"
 
@@ -118,6 +119,8 @@
             ReadRegStr $2 ${ROOT_KEY} \
                        "${__CONDA_REG_PREFIX}\$1\InstallPath" ""
             ${If} $2 != ""
+            ${AndIf} ${FileExists} "$2\python.exe"
+            ${AndIf} ${FileExists} "$2\Scripts\conda.exe"
                 ${LogWrite} "${ROOT_KEY} ${__CONDA_REG_PREFIX}\$1\InstallPath: $2"
                 Exch $2  # <stack> $0, $1, $2, "prefix"
             ${EndIf}
diff --git a/scripts/windows/condainstall.bat b/scripts/windows/condainstall.bat
index 1a2a62a01fd..5fa5fce3dea 100644
--- a/scripts/windows/condainstall.bat
+++ b/scripts/windows/condainstall.bat
@@ -30,6 +30,13 @@ rem # with a local package, we need to create it manually.
 echo @echo off           > "%PREFIX%\Scripts\conda.bat"
 echo call "%CONDA%" %%* >> "%PREFIX%\Scripts\conda.bat"
 
+rem # same for activate.bat
+rem #
+for %%f in ( "%CONDA%" ) do ( set "CONDA_DIR=%%~dpf" )
+echo @echo off                           > "%PREFIX%\Scripts\activate.bat"
+echo call "%CONDA_DIR%\activate.bat" %%* >> "%PREFIX%\Scripts\activate.bat"
+set CONDA_DIR=
+
 rem # Create .condarc file that includes conda-forge channel
 rem # We need it so add-ons can be installed from conda-forge
 echo Appending conda-forge channel
diff --git a/scripts/windows/orange-conda.nsi b/scripts/windows/orange-conda.nsi
index 0f543801299..e4d57199693 100644
--- a/scripts/windows/orange-conda.nsi
+++ b/scripts/windows/orange-conda.nsi
@@ -171,6 +171,10 @@ Var StartMenuFolder
 # - no check box to enable/disable start menu creation
 #   (is controled by the Components Page)
 !define MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_NODISABLE
+# Registry key path where the selected start folder name is stored
+!define MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_REGISTRY_ROOT SHELL_CONTEXT
+!define MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_REGISTRY_KEY ${INSTALL_SETTINGS_KEY}
+!define MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_REGISTRY_VALUENAME StartMenuFolder
 !insertmacro MUI_PAGE_STARTMENU StartMenuPageID $StartMenuFolder
 
 # Install Files page:
@@ -574,6 +578,11 @@ Section "Start Menu Shortcuts" SectionStartMenu
             "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuFolder\${LAUNCHER_SHORTCUT_NAME}.lnk" \
             "$PythonExecPrefix\pythonw.exe" "-m Orange.canvas" \
             "$PythonPrefix\share\orange3\icons\orange.ico" 0
+
+        # A utility shortcut for activating the environment
+        CreateShortCut \
+            "$SMPROGRAMS\$StartMenuFolder\${APPNAME} Command Prompt.lnk" \
+            "%COMSPEC%" '/S /K ""$PythonScriptsPrefix\activate.bat" "$InstDir""'
     ${EndIf}
     !insertmacro MUI_STARTMENU_WRITE_END
 SectionEnd
@@ -604,6 +613,7 @@ Function un.Shortcuts
         ${LogWrite} "Removing Start Menu Shortcuts (from $SMPROGRAMS\$0)"
         DetailPrint "Removing Start Menu shortcuts"
         Delete "$SMPROGRAMS\$0\${LAUNCHER_SHORTCUT_NAME}.lnk"
+        Delete "$SMPROGRAMS\$0\${APPNAME} Command Prompt.lnk"
         RMDir "$SMPROGRAMS\$0"
     ${EndIf}
     ${LogWrite} "Removing Desktop shortcurt"
@@ -743,8 +753,8 @@ Section Uninstall
     ${LogWrite} "    PythonPrefix: $PythonPrefix"
     ${LogWrite} "    BasePythonPrefix: $BasePythonPrefix"
 
-    Call un.Register
     Call un.Shortcuts
+    Call un.Register
     Call un.Launchers
     Call un.InstallPackages
     Call un.Environment
diff --git a/scripts/windows/orange-install.nsi b/scripts/windows/orange-install.nsi
index 0e411b10ca2..586c8e5c34d 100644
--- a/scripts/windows/orange-install.nsi
+++ b/scripts/windows/orange-install.nsi
@@ -189,6 +189,10 @@ Var StartMenuFolder
 # - no check box to enable/disable start menu creation
 #   (is controled by the Components Page)
 !define MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_NODISABLE
+# Registry key path where the selected start folder name is stored
+!define MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_REGISTRY_ROOT SHELL_CONTEXT
+!define MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_REGISTRY_KEY ${INSTALL_SETTINGS_KEY}
+!define MUI_STARTMENUPAGE_REGISTRY_VALUENAME StartMenuFolder
 !insertmacro MUI_PAGE_STARTMENU StartMenuPageID $StartMenuFolder
 
 # Install Files page:
@@ -446,7 +450,7 @@ Section "Python ${PYTHON_VERSION} (${BITS} bit)" SectionPython
         Abort "Python installation failed (error value: $0)"
     ${EndIf}
     ${GetPythonInstall} \
-        "${PYMAJOR}.${PYMINOR}" $BasePythonPrefix $PythonInstallMode
+        "${PYMAJOR}.${PYMINOR}" ${BITS} $BasePythonPrefix $PythonInstallMode
     ${If} $BasePythonPrefix == ""
         Abort "Python installation failed (cannot determine Python \
                installation prefix)."
@@ -639,6 +643,9 @@ Function un.Shortcuts
         ${LogWrite} "Removing Start Menu Shortcuts (from $SMPROGRAMS\$0)"
         DetailPrint "Removing Start Menu shortcuts"
         Delete "$SMPROGRAMS\$0\${LAUNCHER_SHORTCUT_NAME}.lnk"
+!if ${PYINSTALL_TYPE} == Normal
+        Delete "$SMPROGRAMS\$0\${APPNAME} Command Prompt.lnk"
+!endif
         RMDir "$SMPROGRAMS\$0"
     ${EndIf}
     ${LogWrite} "Removing Desktop shortcurt"
@@ -780,8 +787,8 @@ Section Uninstall
     ${LogWrite} "    PythonPrefix: $PythonPrefix"
     ${LogWrite} "    BasePythonPrefix: $BasePythonPrefix"
 
-    Call un.Register
     Call un.Shortcuts
+    Call un.Register
     Call un.Launchers
     Call un.InstallPackages
     Call un.Environment
@@ -811,7 +818,8 @@ Function .onInit
     !insertmacro MULTIUSER_INIT
 
 !if ${PYINSTALL_TYPE} == Normal
-    ${GetPythonInstall} ${PYMAJOR}.${PYMINOR} $BasePythonPrefix $PythonInstallMode
+    ${GetPythonInstall} ${PYMAJOR}.${PYMINOR} ${BITS} \
+        $BasePythonPrefix $PythonInstallMode
     ${LogWrite} "Python Prefix: $BasePythonPrefix"
     ${LogWrite} "Python Install Type: $PythonInstallMode"
     ${If} $BasePythonPrefix != ""