Windows XP and DOS

Modify the System and User Paths

SUMMARY: The PATHMAN DOS command can make it easier to modify the system and user paths used by Windows XP.

If you are in the C:\TEMP directory and type in NETSTAT at a command prompt to view active connection statistics, Windows will most likely not find "netstat.exe" in the C:\TEMP directory.

However, the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 directory is in what's called the path, or a list of directories Windows uses if it can't find an executable in the current directory. Since C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 contains the file "netstat.exe", Windows will run the command from there.

By using the SET command with the PATH environment variable, you can modify Windows XP's path. However, doing so can be messy and error-prone.

If you frequently need to modify the PATH, the Windows 2003 Resource Kit comes built-in with a command called PATHMAN, or Path Manager, that lets you cleanly modify the system and user paths.

To use this command, you'll need to first download and install the Windows 2003 Resource Kit. Then you can run pathman.exe and use one of the following options:

/as PATH
Adds a semicolon-separated PATH to the system path

/au PATH
Adds a semicolon-separated PATH to the user path

/rs PATH
Removes a semicolon-separated PATH from the system path

/ru PATH
Removes a semicolon-separated PATH from the user path

Examples:

C:\>pathman /as c:\morecommands

This adds the directory "c:\morecommands" to the system path. After restarting the current command prompt or opening a new command prompt, any batch files or executables located in the "c:\morecommands" directory are now executable from anywhere on your system.

Type the following command in a new DOS window to see your modified PATH environment variable:

C:\>set path

Now, to remove the directory from the path:

C:\>pathman /rs c:\morecommands

This removes the directory "c:\morecommands" from the system path. After restarting the current command prompt or opening a new command prompt, any batch files or executables located in the "c:\morecommands" directory will only be executable from within the "c:\morecommands" directory.

Type the following command in a new DOS window to see your modified PATH environment variable:

C:\>set path

Return to the Windows XP and DOS page.

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