New VMware Jupyter Install "Can't connect to kernal"

I’m following some on-line tutorials that utilize Jupyter and am having some issues I would appreciate understanding/getting resolved. I’ve been following Jupyter’s "When things go wrong’ and searching other places but thought I’d post here. I’ve appended based on the suggestions read hoping it will make more sense in the forum than it does in my head. In case one does not get all the way to the bottom let me thank you here in advance.

Initial install appears to have completed successfully.
python3 -m pip install --user jupyter

From the command line
jupyter notebook
opens up jupyter. However, the kernal never connects.

jupyter --version returns

tapster@tapster-MintVM:~$ jupyter --version
jupyter core : 4.6.0
jupyter-notebook : 6.0.1
qtconsole : 4.5.5
ipython : not installed
ipykernel : 5.1.2
jupyter client : 5.3.4
jupyter lab : not installed
nbconvert : 5.6.0
ipywidgets : not installed
nbformat : 4.4.0
traitlets : 4.3.2

jupiter kernalspec returns

tapster@tapster-MintVM:~$ jupyter kernalspec
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “/home/tapster/.local/bin/jupyter”, line 8, in
sys.exit(main())
File “/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/jupyter_core/command.py”, line 247, in main
command = _jupyter_abspath(subcommand)
File “/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/jupyter_core/command.py”, line 134, in _jupyter_abspath
‘Jupyter command {} not found.’.format(jupyter_subcommand)
Exception: Jupyter command jupyter-kernalspec not found.

jupyter troubleshooot returns

$PATH:
/home/tapster/.local/bin
/usr/local/sbin
/usr/local/bin
/usr/sbin
/usr/bin
/sbin
/bin
/usr/games
/usr/local/games

sys.path:
/home/tapster/.local/bin
/usr/lib/python36.zip
/usr/lib/python3.6
/usr/lib/python3.6/lib-dynload
/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages
/usr/local/lib/python3.6/dist-packages
/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages
/usr/lib/python3.6/dist-packages

sys.executable:
/usr/bin/python3

sys.version:
3.6.8 (default, Oct 7 2019, 12:59:55)
[GCC 8.3.0]

platform.platform():
Linux-4.15.0-65-generic-x86_64-with-LinuxMint-19.1-tessa

which -a jupyter:
/home/tapster/.local/bin/jupyter

pip list:
Package Version
--------------------- ---------
apt-clone 0.2.1
apturl 0.5.2
attrs 19.3.0
beautifulsoup4 4.6.0
bleach 3.1.0
Brlapi 0.6.6
certifi 2018.1.18
chardet 3.0.4
command-not-found 0.3
configobj 5.0.6
cupshelpers 1.0
decorator 4.1.2
defer 1.0.6
defusedxml 0.6.0
entrypoints 0.3
httplib2 0.9.2
idna 2.6
importlib-metadata 0.23
ipykernel 5.1.2
ipython 5.5.0
ipython-genutils 0.2.0
ipywidgets 7.5.1
Jinja2 2.10.3
jsonschema 3.1.1
jupyter 1.0.0
jupyter-client 5.3.4
jupyter-console 6.0.0
jupyter-core 4.6.0
louis 3.5.0
macaroonbakery 1.1.3
Mako 1.0.7
MarkupSafe 1.0
mistune 0.8.4
more-itertools 7.2.0
nbconvert 5.6.0
nbformat 4.4.0
nemo-emblems 4.0.2
netifaces 0.10.4
notebook 6.0.1
onboard 1.4.1
PAM 0.4.2
pandocfilters 1.4.2
pexpect 4.2.1
pickleshare 0.7.4
Pillow 5.1.0
pip 19.3
prometheus-client 0.7.1
prompt-toolkit 2.0.10
protobuf 3.0.0
psutil 5.4.2
ptyprocess 0.6.0
pycairo 1.16.2
pycrypto 2.6.1
pycups 1.9.73
pycurl 7.43.0.1
Pygments 2.2.0
pygobject 3.26.1
PyICU 1.9.8
pyinotify 0.9.6
pymacaroons 0.13.0
PyNaCl 1.1.2
pyRFC3339 1.0
pyrsistent 0.15.4
python-apt 1.6.4
python-dateutil 2.8.0
python-debian 0.1.32
python-xapp 1.4.0
python-xlib 0.20
pytz 2018.3
pyxdg 0.25
PyYAML 3.12
pyzmq 18.1.0
qtconsole 4.5.5
reportlab 3.4.0
requests 2.18.4
requests-unixsocket 0.1.5
Send2Trash 1.5.0
sessioninstaller 0.0.0
setproctitle 1.1.10
setuptools 41.2.0
simplegeneric 0.8.1
six 1.11.0
system-service 0.3
systemd-python 234
terminado 0.8.2
testpath 0.4.2
tornado 6.0.3
traitlets 4.3.2
ubuntu-drivers-common 0.0.0
ufw 0.36
urllib3 1.22
wcwidth 0.1.7
webencodings 0.5.1
wheel 0.33.6
widgetsnbextension 3.5.1
xkit 0.0.0
zipp 0.6.0

^C to shut down notebook shows 

tapster@tapster-MintVM:~$ jupyter-notebook
[I 11:30:37.611 NotebookApp] Serving notebooks from local directory: /home/tapster
[I 11:30:37.611 NotebookApp] The Jupyter Notebook is running at:
Link deleted.
[I 11:30:37.613 NotebookApp] Use Control-C to stop this server and shut down all kernels (twice to skip confirmation).
[C 11:30:37.643 NotebookApp]

To access the notebook, open this file in a browser:
    file:///home/tapster/.local/share/jupyter/runtime/nbserver-5793-open.html
Or copy and paste one of these URLs:
    http://localhost:8888/?token=6fec9c95a4feda021f308a8738e82daf69547ec998fbfe41
 or http://127.0.0.1:8888/?token=6fec9c95a4feda021f308a8738e82daf69547ec998fbfe41

[I 11:31:27.591 NotebookApp] Kernel started: 3eaf5d53-8c87-48df-b829-fe4895d142c7
[W 11:31:27.680 NotebookApp] 404 GET /nbextensions/widgets/notebook/js/extension.js?v=20191015113037 (127.0.0.1) 65.17ms referer=http://localhost:8888/notebooks/Study/Py_Func_1.ipynb
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “/usr/lib/python3.6/runpy.py”, line 193, in _run_module_as_main
main”, mod_spec)
File “/usr/lib/python3.6/runpy.py”, line 85, in _run_code
exec(code, run_globals)
File “/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipykernel_launcher.py”, line 15, in
from ipykernel import kernelapp as app
File “/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipykernel/init.py”, line 2, in
from .connect import *
File “/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipykernel/connect.py”, line 13, in
from IPython.core.profiledir import ProfileDir
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/IPython/init.py”, line 49, in
from .terminal.embed import embed
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/IPython/terminal/embed.py”, line 18, in
from IPython.terminal.interactiveshell import TerminalInteractiveShell
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/IPython/terminal/interactiveshell.py”, line 20, in
from prompt_toolkit.shortcuts import create_prompt_application, create_eventloop, create_prompt_layout, create_output
ImportError: cannot import name ‘create_prompt_application’
[I 11:31:30.561 NotebookApp] KernelRestarter: restarting kernel (1/5), new random ports
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “/usr/lib/python3.6/runpy.py”, line 193, in _run_module_as_main
main”, mod_spec)
File “/usr/lib/python3.6/runpy.py”, line 85, in _run_code
exec(code, run_globals)
File “/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipykernel_launcher.py”, line 15, in
from ipykernel import kernelapp as app
File “/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipykernel/init.py”, line 2, in
from .connect import *
File “/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipykernel/connect.py”, line 13, in
from IPython.core.profiledir import ProfileDir
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/IPython/init.py”, line 49, in
from .terminal.embed import embed
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/IPython/terminal/embed.py”, line 18, in
from IPython.terminal.interactiveshell import TerminalInteractiveShell
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/IPython/terminal/interactiveshell.py”, line 20, in
from prompt_toolkit.shortcuts import create_prompt_application, create_eventloop, create_prompt_layout, create_output
ImportError: cannot import name ‘create_prompt_application’
[I 11:31:33.582 NotebookApp] KernelRestarter: restarting kernel (2/5), new random ports
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “/usr/lib/python3.6/runpy.py”, line 193, in _run_module_as_main
main”, mod_spec)
File “/usr/lib/python3.6/runpy.py”, line 85, in _run_code
exec(code, run_globals)
File “/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipykernel_launcher.py”, line 15, in
from ipykernel import kernelapp as app
File “/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipykernel/init.py”, line 2, in
from .connect import *
File “/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipykernel/connect.py”, line 13, in
from IPython.core.profiledir import ProfileDir
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/IPython/init.py”, line 49, in
from .terminal.embed import embed
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/IPython/terminal/embed.py”, line 18, in
from IPython.terminal.interactiveshell import TerminalInteractiveShell
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/IPython/terminal/interactiveshell.py”, line 20, in
from prompt_toolkit.shortcuts import create_prompt_application, create_eventloop, create_prompt_layout, create_output
ImportError: cannot import name ‘create_prompt_application’
[I 11:31:36.604 NotebookApp] KernelRestarter: restarting kernel (3/5), new random ports
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “/usr/lib/python3.6/runpy.py”, line 193, in _run_module_as_main
main”, mod_spec)
File “/usr/lib/python3.6/runpy.py”, line 85, in _run_code
exec(code, run_globals)
File “/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipykernel_launcher.py”, line 15, in
from ipykernel import kernelapp as app
File “/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipykernel/init.py”, line 2, in
from .connect import *
File “/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipykernel/connect.py”, line 13, in
from IPython.core.profiledir import ProfileDir
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/IPython/init.py”, line 49, in
from .terminal.embed import embed
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/IPython/terminal/embed.py”, line 18, in
from IPython.terminal.interactiveshell import TerminalInteractiveShell
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/IPython/terminal/interactiveshell.py”, line 20, in
from prompt_toolkit.shortcuts import create_prompt_application, create_eventloop, create_prompt_layout, create_output
ImportError: cannot import name ‘create_prompt_application’
[I 11:31:39.625 NotebookApp] KernelRestarter: restarting kernel (4/5), new random ports
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “/usr/lib/python3.6/runpy.py”, line 193, in _run_module_as_main
main”, mod_spec)
File “/usr/lib/python3.6/runpy.py”, line 85, in _run_code
exec(code, run_globals)
File “/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipykernel_launcher.py”, line 15, in
from ipykernel import kernelapp as app
File “/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipykernel/init.py”, line 2, in
from .connect import *
File “/home/tapster/.local/lib/python3.6/site-packages/ipykernel/connect.py”, line 13, in
from IPython.core.profiledir import ProfileDir
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/IPython/init.py”, line 49, in
from .terminal.embed import embed
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/IPython/terminal/embed.py”, line 18, in
from IPython.terminal.interactiveshell import TerminalInteractiveShell
File “/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/IPython/terminal/interactiveshell.py”, line 20, in
from prompt_toolkit.shortcuts import create_prompt_application, create_eventloop, create_prompt_layout, create_output
ImportError: cannot import name ‘create_prompt_application’
[W 11:31:42.646 NotebookApp] KernelRestarter: restart failed
[W 11:31:42.647 NotebookApp] Kernel 3eaf5d53-8c87-48df-b829-fe4895d142c7 died, removing from map.
[W 11:31:48.784 NotebookApp] Replacing stale connection: 3eaf5d53-8c87-48df-b829-fe4895d142c7:a435757e26e042e3a9ee4f8418197738
[W 11:32:10.876 NotebookApp] Replacing stale connection: 3eaf5d53-8c87-48df-b829-fe4895d142c7:a435757e26e042e3a9ee4f8418197738
[W 11:32:27.762 NotebookApp] Timeout waiting for kernel_info reply from 3eaf5d53-8c87-48df-b829-fe4895d142c7
[E 11:32:27.767 NotebookApp] Error opening stream: HTTP 404: Not Found (Kernel does not exist: 3eaf5d53-8c87-48df-b829-fe4895d142c7)
[W 11:32:27.771 NotebookApp] 404 GET /api/kernels/3eaf5d53-8c87-48df-b829-fe4895d142c7/channels?session_id=a435757e26e042e3a9ee4f8418197738 (127.0.0.1): Kernel does not exist: 3eaf5d53-8c87-48df-b829-fe4895d142c7
[W 11:32:27.776 NotebookApp] 404 GET /api/kernels/3eaf5d53-8c87-48df-b829-fe4895d142c7/channels?session_id=a435757e26e042e3a9ee4f8418197738 (127.0.0.1) 39001.00ms referer=None
[W 11:32:27.779 NotebookApp] 404 GET /api/kernels/3eaf5d53-8c87-48df-b829-fe4895d142c7/channels?session_id=a435757e26e042e3a9ee4f8418197738 (127.0.0.1): Kernel does not exist: 3eaf5d53-8c87-48df-b829-fe4895d142c7
[W 11:32:27.782 NotebookApp] 404 GET /api/kernels/3eaf5d53-8c87-48df-b829-fe4895d142c7/channels?session_id=a435757e26e042e3a9ee4f8418197738 (127.0.0.1) 16915.35ms referer=None
[W 11:32:31.820 NotebookApp] Replacing stale connection: 3eaf5d53-8c87-48df-b829-fe4895d142c7:a435757e26e042e3a9ee4f8418197738
[W 11:32:59.846 NotebookApp] Replacing stale connection: 3eaf5d53-8c87-48df-b829-fe4895d142c7:a435757e26e042e3a9ee4f8418197738
[W 11:33:35.879 NotebookApp] Replacing stale connection: 3eaf5d53-8c87-48df-b829-fe4895d142c7:a435757e26e042e3a9ee4f8418197738
[W 11:34:27.901 NotebookApp] Replacing stale connection: 3eaf5d53-8c87-48df-b829-fe4895d142c7:a435757e26e042e3a9ee4f8418197738
[W 11:35:51.926 NotebookApp] Replacing stale connection: 3eaf5d53-8c87-48df-b829-fe4895d142c7:a435757e26e042e3a9ee4f8418197738
^C[I 12:10:26.378 NotebookApp] interrupted
Serving notebooks from local directory: /home/tapster
0 active kernels
The Jupyter Notebook is running at:
http://localhost:8888/?token=6fec9c95a4feda021f308a8738e82daf69547ec998fbfe41
or http://127.0.0.1:8888/?token=6fec9c95a4feda021f308a8738e82daf69547ec998fbfe41
Shutdown this notebook server (y/[n])? y
[C 12:10:28.951 NotebookApp] Shutdown confirmed
[I 12:10:28.955 NotebookApp] Shutting down 0 kernels

I’m having the same issue. Would like to know have you solved the problem?
And how?

The original post implies an older version of prompt_toolkit is in use. You might try updating that package: pip install --upgrade prompt_toolkit (or the conda equivalent).

The issue is coming from ipykernel which relies heavily in IPython, so you might try upgrading/reinstalling ipykernel should the issue persist.