newby q: cannot install control package

[freebelvin]

Greetings from a Matlab refugee,

Longtime Matlab user, I have just shifted to Octave (to save $ at a small 
company I just joined).

First, I downloaded Octave 4.0.3 to my laptop, 64-bit Windows 10 Toshiba.  This 
installed perfectly.

Second, I attempted to install the control package, several ways, with no 
success.  My error messages are shown below:

First method
============

>> pkg install -forge control
error: get_forge_pkg: could not read URL, please verify internet connection
error: called from
    get_forge_pkg at line 77 column 7
    get_forge_download at line 26 column 12
    pkg at line 393 column 29
>>


Second method
=============

>> pkg install control-3.0.0.tar.gz
make: C:/Program: Command not found
make: Entering directory `/tmp/oct-VDJ2TK/control/src'
make: C:/Program: Command not found
make: C:/Program: Command not found
make: C:/Program: Command not found
make: C:/Program: Command not found
/bin/sh: C:/Program: No such file or directory
make: *** [slicotlibrary.a] Error 127
tar -xzf slicot.tar.gz
mkdir sltmp
mv slicot/src/*.f ./sltmp
mv slicot/src_aux/*.f ./sltmp
cp TG04BX.fortran ./sltmp/TG04BX.f
cp TB01ZD.fortran ./sltmp/TB01ZD.f
cd sltmp; C:/Program Files/Octave/octave-4.0.3/bin/mkoctfile-4.0.3.exe -c *.f
make: Leaving directory `/tmp/oct-VDJ2TK/control/src'

pkg: error running `make' for the control package.
error: called from 'configure_make' in file C:\Program 
Files\Octave\octave-4.0.3\
share\octave\4.0.3\m\pkg\private\configure_make.m near line 96, column 9
>>


Third idea
==========

I have tried to research this subject.  I read that the control package used to 
be part of the Octave release but then got pulled out into an external product. 
 But, I notice that my 4.0.3 install appears to have a fully populated control 
folder out there on my disk.  Is there some way to get Octave to realize that 
and start using it?


Fourth idea
===========

If some earlier Octave release can get me going, I'd be willing to switch 
versions.  I just want the package to run, does not have to be the latest 
greatest.

==============

Would anyone have an idea how to resolve this, by any method?  Thanks, thanks, 
thanks, for your helpful suggestions!


Sincerely,

b