xampp - stuck on composer installationmethod

I am pretty sure I installed composer correctly, based on the errors I am getting.

Win XP

Xampp install version xampp-win32-1.8.2-6-VC9-installer.exe

Xampp seems to be working fine.

installed Composer (since I got the error message below, I assume composer is installed fine)

But when I get to the next step in the YII install procedure, I get this error.

Instructions are pretty weak. Am I in the right directory? Where would I find the missing file ? What am I doing wrong ?

I had the same problem, I resolved it by using the full file path for compose.phar in the command.

php C:\ProgramData\ComposerSetup\bin\composer.phar global etc.

You’ll need to do the same for the ensuing compose.phar commands