"Or can I just download the module archives, extract and copy them in the perl folder - is that like a valid installation?"

This may take a long longer than you think, many modules have lots of dependencies.

"Or can I just download the module archives, extract and copy them in the perl folder - is that like a valid installation?"

Not wise, there are many modules containing C code which require compilation etc.

"I don't insist on using CPAN installation, I will be fine with manual configuration, but I am on Windows and don't have the make commands. Can someone suggest an alternative? Is dmake okay? Is there really a big difference between the two?"

In installation notes just replace the use of make with dmake, but you would be better resolving the issue you have IMHO.

"nothing helped"

Strange. Can you open a command prompt and try what I suggested and show me the output here?

In reply to Re^3: Cpan reload index failed by marto
in thread Cpan reload index failed by Anonymous Monk

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