basicmachines-co
diff --git a/‎src/basic_memory/cli/commands/cloud/rclone_commands.py‎
Lines changed: 28 additions & 3 deletions b/‎src/basic_memory/cli/commands/cloud/rclone_commands.py‎
Lines changed: 28 additions & 3 deletions
diff --git a/‎src/basic_memory/cli/commands/cloud/rclone_installer.py‎
Lines changed: 18 additions & 4 deletions b/‎src/basic_memory/cli/commands/cloud/rclone_installer.py‎
Lines changed: 18 additions & 4 deletions
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 from rich.console import Console
 
+from basic_memory.cli.commands.cloud.rclone_installer import is_rclone_installed
 from basic_memory.utils import normalize_project_path
 
 console = Console()
@@ -27,6 +28,21 @@ class RcloneError(Exception):
     pass
 
 
+def check_rclone_installed() -> None:
+    """Check if rclone is installed and raise helpful error if not.
+
+    Raises:
+        RcloneError: If rclone is not installed with installation instructions
+    """
+    if not is_rclone_installed():
+        raise RcloneError(
+            "rclone is not installed.\n\n"
+            "Install rclone by running: bm cloud setup\n"
+            "Or install manually from: https://rclone.org/downloads/\n\n"
+            "Windows users: Ensure you have a package manager installed (winget, chocolatey, or scoop)"
+        )
+
+
 @dataclass
 class SyncProject:
     """Project configured for cloud sync.
@@ -124,8 +140,10 @@ def project_sync(
         True if sync succeeded, False otherwise
 
     Raises:
-        RcloneError: If project has no local_sync_path configured
+        RcloneError: If project has no local_sync_path configured or rclone not installed
     """
+    check_rclone_installed()
+
     if not project.local_sync_path:
         raise RcloneError(f"Project {project.name} has no local_sync_path configured")
 
@@ -180,8 +198,10 @@ def project_bisync(
         True if bisync succeeded, False otherwise
 
     Raises:
-        RcloneError: If project has no local_sync_path or needs --resync
+        RcloneError: If project has no local_sync_path, needs --resync, or rclone not installed
     """
+    check_rclone_installed()
+
     if not project.local_sync_path:
         raise RcloneError(f"Project {project.name} has no local_sync_path configured")
 
@@ -249,8 +269,10 @@ def project_check(
         True if files match, False if differences found
 
     Raises:
-        RcloneError: If project has no local_sync_path configured
+        RcloneError: If project has no local_sync_path configured or rclone not installed
     """
+    check_rclone_installed()
+
     if not project.local_sync_path:
         raise RcloneError(f"Project {project.name} has no local_sync_path configured")
 
@@ -291,7 +313,10 @@ def project_ls(
 
     Raises:
         subprocess.CalledProcessError: If rclone command fails
+        RcloneError: If rclone is not installed
     """
+    check_rclone_installed()
+
     remote_path = get_project_remote(project, bucket_name)
     if path:
         remote_path = f"{remote_path}/{path}"
 
@@ -151,11 +151,25 @@ def install_rclone_windows() -> None:
         except RcloneInstallError:
             console.print("[yellow]scoop installation failed[/yellow]")
 
-    # No package manager available
-    raise RcloneInstallError(
-        "Could not install rclone automatically. Please install a package manager "
-        "(winget, chocolatey, or scoop) or install rclone manually from https://rclone.org/downloads/"
+    # No package manager available - provide detailed instructions
+    error_msg = (
+        "Could not install rclone automatically.\n\n"
+        "Windows requires a package manager to install rclone. Options:\n\n"
+        "1. Install winget (recommended, built into Windows 11):\n"
+        "   - Windows 11: Already installed\n"
+        "   - Windows 10: Install 'App Installer' from Microsoft Store\n"
+        "   - Then run: bm cloud setup\n\n"
+        "2. Install chocolatey:\n"
+        "   - Visit: https://chocolatey.org/install\n"
+        "   - Then run: bm cloud setup\n\n"
+        "3. Install scoop:\n"
+        "   - Visit: https://scoop.sh\n"
+        "   - Then run: bm cloud setup\n\n"
+        "4. Manual installation:\n"
+        "   - Download from: https://rclone.org/downloads/\n"
+        "   - Extract and add to PATH\n"
     )
+    raise RcloneInstallError(error_msg)
 
 
 def install_rclone(platform_override: Optional[str] = None) -> None: