Problems with ply files

Ok here’s the deal. I don’t know if my ply file is bad or if python is bad.
But I can’t import any ply models into blender.
Ok firstly I go here:
http://graphics.stanford.edu/data/3Dscanrep/

And download the ply file for happy buddha. I use ultimatezip (which is free) to unzip the tar file.
I then open blender go to:

  1. File > import > PLY (navigate through my directory to point to the ply file and click the import ply button. It looks like it is doing something because the screen flickers and a bar loads at the top.

Then I get a python script error and it says check console. The error is as follows:

Compiled with Python version 2.4.
'import site' failed; use -v for traceback
Checking for installed Python... No installed Python found.
Only built-in modules are available.  Some scripts may not run.
Continuing happily.
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<string>", line 271, in filesel_callback
KeyError: 'face'

What the hell does that mean. I have installed the latest version of blender? Help.

Ps. the same thing happens if I choose the standford ply import option as well. There are two import options for ply in my menu.
If you can solve this I’d be so happy.

You don’t have python 2.4 installed or installed correctly. Ply files load fine here.

GreyBeard