diff --git a/install.ps1 b/install.ps1
index 975c4a5..7ab4666 100644
--- a/install.ps1
+++ b/install.ps1
@@ -92,10 +92,10 @@ if ($haveGit) {
 if (-not (Test-Path (Join-Path $dir "update.py"))) { throw "update.py missing after install - aborting." }
 
 Set-Location $dir
-$py = (Get-Command python -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue)
-Ping("📦 Code synced on **$env:COMPUTERNAME**; python=$([bool]$py); running update.py...")
 python update.py
-Ping("✅ Installer finished on **$env:COMPUTERNAME** (update.py exit $LASTEXITCODE)")
+if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) {
+  Ping("⚠️ update.py exited $LASTEXITCODE on **$env:COMPUTERNAME** — likely a Microsoft-Store python stub (no real Python). Fix: winget install Python.Python.3.12, or disable the python.exe App-Execution-Alias.")
+}
 
 Write-Host ""
 Write-Host "Installed at $dir. Auto-start + daily auto-update are configured - nothing else to do."