How to Install and Run DeepSeek Locally: A Step-by-Step Guide

DeepSeek is a powerful AI model, and running it locally allows you to harness its capabilities without relying on a constant internet connection. This guide provides a detailed walkthrough of how to download, install, and run DeepSeek on your Windows machine. This local setup is perfect for developers, researchers, and AI enthusiasts who want to explore DeepSeek's potential.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure your system meets the following requirements:

• Operating System: Windows 10 or higher.
• Administrator Privileges: You'll need administrator rights to install the necessary software.

1. Downloading the DeepSeek Installation Package

To get started, download the DeepSeek installation package from Ollama's library. The Deepseek model is available via Ollama, which makes the installation process significantly easier.

• Download Link: https://ollama.com/library/deepseek-r1
• Troubleshooting Slow Downloads: If the download speed is slow, it might be due to high traffic on the seed server. Cancel the download and try again after a short while.

2. Preparing for Installation

Before running the installer, take these precautionary steps:

• Disable Antivirus Software: Temporarily disable your antivirus software. Antivirus programs sometimes interfere with the installation process, leading to errors. Remember to re-enable your antivirus once the installation is complete.

3. Installing DeepSeek

Follow these steps to install DeepSeek on your local machine:

1. Run as Administrator: Right-click the downloaded installation package and select "Run as administrator." This ensures the installer has the necessary permissions to make system changes.
2. Follow the Installation Wizard: Proceed through the installation process using the default settings. The installation wizard will guide you through each step.
3. Installation Completion: Once the installation is successful, an icon will appear in the system tray (bottom right corner of your screen). This indicates that the DeepSeek runtime environment, likely Ollama, is running.

4. Running DeepSeek

With DeepSeek installed, you can now run it using the command line:

1. Open PowerShell: Open a PowerShell window. This is your primary interface for interacting with DeepSeek.
2. Execute the Run Command: Type the following command and press Enter:

   ollama run deepseek-r1:1.5b
   

   This command instructs Ollama to download (if not already present) and run a specific version (1.5b in this example) of the DeepSeek model. This command pulls the DeepSeek model and prepares it for use. Be patient, as this might take some time depending on your internet speed.

5. Interacting with DeepSeek

After the model has loaded, you can start interacting with DeepSeek directly in the PowerShell window:

• Enter Your Prompts: Type your questions or prompts directly into the PowerShell window and press Enter.
• Receive Responses: DeepSeek will process your input and provide a response directly in the PowerShell window.

6. Optional: Using a Chatbox Interface (Chatbox-1.9.8-Setup.exe)

While you can interact with DeepSeek via the command line, a graphical interface can greatly improve usability. Here's how to set up Chatbox:

1. Install Chatbox: Locate and run the Chatbox installer ("Chatbox-1.9.8-Setup.exe") as an administrator.
2. Select Necessary API: In Chatbox settings, you can select the Ollama API, that will handle the requests and responses between Chatbox and Deepseek.
3. Run Ollama: Run Ollama first, prior to running Chatbox to ensure the API can connect correctly.
4. Open Chatbox: Launch Chatbox to begin the installation. Chatbox provides a user-friendly interface for interacting with DeepSeek.

Troubleshooting

• Installation Errors: If you encounter installation errors, ensure that you have administrator privileges and that your antivirus software is disabled. Also, verify that your operating system meets the minimum requirements (Windows 10 or higher).
• Model Loading Issues: If the model fails to load or run, check your internet connection and ensure that Ollama is running correctly. You can also try restarting your computer.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can successfully install and run DeepSeek locally on your Windows machine. This provides a powerful tool for AI exploration, development, and research. Ensure to keep your DeepSeek installation up to date to benefit from the latest features and improvements.

By setting up and running DeepSeek locally, you gain greater control over your AI environment and can begin to explore the vast potential of this powerful language model.