Thread: Issue with PATH system variable

Hello all,

Some installations have changed the value of the PATH variable. I know how to change it back but I'm not sure if it can cause my pc any harm. its current value is: C:\Program Files\AMD APP\bin\x86;%CommonProgramFiles%\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live;C:\orant\bin;%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoo t%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;C:\Program Files\Common Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin;C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\;C:\Program Files\HP\Digital Imaging\bin\Qt\Qt 4.3.3;C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static;C:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTSystem\;C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\80\Tools\Binn\

Is there any harm in changing it?

Thank you.
-Mel

The OS uses its value to find files. If you mess it up, the OS may not be able to find some files.

Copy and contents and save it in a file just in case something stops working you can paste it back the way it was.

Another idea(I've never tried this) would be to create another Environment variable: PATH_SAVED and copy the current Path's value into the new one. Then change the current one. If there is a problem you could rename PATH to PATH_OLD and rename PATH_SAVED to PATH to restore the original.

Originally Posted by Norm

The OS uses its value to find files. If you mess it up, the OS may not be able to find some files.

Copy and contents and save it in a file just in case something stops working you can paste it back the way it was.

Another idea(I've never tried this) would be to create another Environment variable: PATH_SAVED and copy the current Path's value into the new one. Then change the current one. If there is a problem you could rename PATH to PATH_OLD and rename PATH_SAVED to PATH to restore the original.

Thanks I will try that. But what will I do if I have to revert it back, no more cmd compiling? :/

If you are careful you should not have to revert back.

Hmm, Windows wont recognize javac even though I set the path variable to the right directory.

Are you sure?
Can you open a command prompt window and enter: PATH
and copy the window's contents and post it here.
To copy the contents of the command prompt window:
Click on Icon in upper left corner
Select Edit
Select 'Select All' - The selection will show
Click in upper left again
Select Edit and click 'Copy'

Paste here.

Here is what I see:

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

D:\JavaDevelopment\Misc_Projects>path
PATH=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\Sys tem32\Wbem;C:\Perl\bin;C:\Prog
ram Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\Common\Tools\WinNT;C:\Program Files\Microsoft
Visual Studio\Common\MSDev98\Bin;C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\Common
\Tools;C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\VC98\bin;D:\Java\jdk1.6.0_02\bin
\;C:\BatchFiles\;C:\Program Files\Common Files\Nero\Lib\

D:\JavaDevelopment\Misc_Projects>

Here is what I got,

HTML Code:

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Leopard\Desktop>PATH
PATH=C:\WINDOWS\System32;C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin

C:\Documents and Settings\Leopard\Desktop>

The javac.exe file is part of the JDK.
Your PATH has a path to the jre6\bin folder. Look in that folder and see if there is a javac.exe file there.

Originally Posted by Norm

The javac.exe file is part of the JDK.
Your PATH has a path to the jre6\bin folder. Look in that folder and see if there is a javac.exe file there.

Strangely it is missing; although I'm sure it was there yesterday. I will try with the previous version(6 update 29).

It worked! Path value:

HTML Code:

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Leopard\Desktop>PATH
PATH=C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_25\bin

C:\Documents and Settings\Leopard\Desktop>

Test run:

HTML Code:

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Leopard\Desktop>javac Args.java

C:\Documents and Settings\Leopard\Desktop>java Args 3 3
3 plus 3 equals 6

C:\Documents and Settings\Leopard\Desktop>

Thanks for helping Norm!

-Mel

Your welcome.

glad to see you got help and got your problem resolved, i am having a similar problem may be you could help me . this is my dos path

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\my>javac
Usage: javac <options> <source files>
where possible options include:
-g Generate all debugging info
-g:none Generate no debugging info
-g:{lines,vars,source} Generate only some debugging info
-nowarn Generate no warnings
-verbose Output messages about what the compiler is doing
-deprecation Output source locations where deprecated APIs are u
sed
-classpath <path> Specify where to find user class files and annotati
on processors
-cp <path> Specify where to find user class files and annotati
on processors
-sourcepath <path> Specify where to find input source files
-bootclasspath <path> Override location of bootstrap class files
-extdirs <dirs> Override location of installed extensions
-endorseddirs <dirs> Override location of endorsed standards path
-proc:{none,only} Control whether annotation processing and/or compil
ation is done.
-processor <class1>[,<class2>,<class3>...] Names of the annotation processors
to run; bypasses default discovery process
-processorpath <path> Specify where to find annotation processors
-d <directory> Specify where to place generated class files
-s <directory> Specify where to place generated source files
-implicit:{none,class} Specify whether or not to generate class files for
implicitly referenced files
-encoding <encoding> Specify character encoding used by source files
-source <release> Provide source compatibility with specified release

-target <release> Generate class files for specific VM version
-version Version information
-help Print a synopsis of standard options
-Akey[=value] Options to pass to annotation processors
-X Print a synopsis of nonstandard options
-J<flag> Pass <flag> directly to the runtime system
-Werror Terminate compilation if warnings occur
@<filename> Read options and filenames from file


C:\Users\my>java -version
Error: could not open `C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\lib\i386\jvm.cfg'

C:\Users\my>path
PATH=C:\Program Files\AMD APP\bin\x86;C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Sh
ared\Windows Live;C:\windows\system32;C:\windows;C:\windows\Sys tem32\Wbem;C:\win
dows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Shared;C:\Pr
ogram Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static;C:\Program Files\WIDCOMM\Blueto
oth Software\;C:\Program Files\Broadcom\Broadcom 802.11;C:\Program Files\QuickTi
me\QTSystem\;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\Pro gram Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_02\bi
n
C:\Users\my> -version
'-version' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\>cd \java -version
The system cannot find the path specified.

c:\Program Files>cd\ java
The system cannot find the path specified.

C:\Program Files>cd \Java
The system cannot find the path specified.

C:\Program Files>dir
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is BC58-5CEE

Directory of C:\Program Files

12/28/2011 03:04 PM <DIR> .
12/28/2011 03:04 PM <DIR> ..
12/13/2011 07:04 PM <DIR> Adobe
12/24/2011 11:12 AM <DIR> AMD APP
12/13/2011 05:43 PM <DIR> Apple Software Update
12/20/2011 06:18 PM <DIR> ArcSoft
12/13/2011 12:38 PM <DIR> ATI
12/24/2011 11:11 AM <DIR> ATI Technologies
04/02/2011 12:36 PM <DIR> Bing Bar Installer
12/13/2011 05:42 PM <DIR> Bonjour
12/21/2011 01:20 PM <DIR> Brand Affinity Technologies
12/13/2011 12:49 PM <DIR> Broadcom
12/13/2011 12:51 PM <DIR> Cisco
12/22/2011 10:08 PM <DIR> Common Files
12/20/2011 06:03 PM <DIR> Conduit
12/16/2011 08:40 AM <DIR> ConvertHelper
12/13/2011 12:57 PM <DIR> Downloaded Installations
12/17/2011 11:30 AM <DIR> Driver Manager
12/15/2011 04:48 PM <DIR> DVD Maker
12/21/2011 01:24 PM <DIR> Hewlett-Packard
04/02/2011 12:45 PM <DIR> HP Games
12/21/2011 01:21 PM <DIR> HyperCam 2
12/21/2011 01:21 PM <DIR> Hyperionics DB Toolbar
12/13/2011 01:00 PM <DIR> IDT
12/28/2011 06:54 PM <DIR> Internet Download Manager
12/19/2011 08:57 PM <DIR> Internet Explorer
12/13/2011 05:46 PM <DIR> iPod
12/13/2011 05:47 PM <DIR> iTunes
12/28/2011 03:04 PM <DIR> Java
12/26/2011 07:43 PM <DIR> jdk1.7.0_02_combo
12/17/2011 12:50 PM <DIR> JetBrains
12/26/2011 01:49 PM <DIR> JPSoft
04/02/2011 12:36 PM <DIR> Microsoft
12/17/2011 09:39 AM <DIR> Microsoft Application Virtualization Clie
nt
12/15/2011 07:25 PM <DIR> Microsoft Office
12/22/2011 04:04 PM <DIR> Microsoft Security Client
12/19/2011 02:45 PM <DIR> Microsoft Silverlight
04/02/2011 12:33 PM <DIR> Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition
04/02/2011 11:42 AM <DIR> Microsoft.NET
12/17/2011 11:24 AM <DIR> Mozilla Firefox
07/13/2009 09:52 PM <DIR> MSBuild
04/02/2011 12:36 PM <DIR> MSN Toolbar
12/26/2011 09:53 PM <DIR> Notepad++
12/13/2011 01:06 PM <DIR> Online Services
12/15/2011 11:28 AM <DIR> Oracle
12/15/2011 04:03 PM <DIR> QuickTime
04/02/2011 01:02 PM <DIR> Realtek
07/13/2009 09:52 PM <DIR> Reference Assemblies
12/15/2011 04:04 PM <DIR> Safari
12/22/2011 11:04 PM <DIR> SeaMonkey
04/02/2011 12:30 PM <DIR> Synaptics
12/20/2011 06:12 PM <DIR> TextAloud
12/21/2011 02:07 PM <DIR> uTorrent
12/21/2011 02:08 PM <DIR> uTorrentBar
12/13/2011 12:45 PM <DIR> WIDCOMM
12/17/2011 11:25 AM <DIR> Winamp
12/17/2011 11:24 AM <DIR> Winamp Detect
12/19/2011 08:57 PM <DIR> Windows Defender
12/19/2011 08:57 PM <DIR> Windows Journal
04/02/2011 12:33 PM <DIR> Windows Live
12/19/2011 08:57 PM <DIR> Windows Mail
12/19/2011 08:57 PM <DIR> Windows Media Player
07/13/2009 09:52 PM <DIR> Windows NT
12/19/2011 08:57 PM <DIR> Windows Photo Viewer
12/15/2011 04:48 PM <DIR> Windows Portable Devices
12/19/2011 08:57 PM <DIR> Windows Sidebar
04/02/2011 12:08 PM <DIR> Windows Virtual PC
12/13/2011 01:03 PM <DIR> Windows XP Mode
12/20/2011 05:38 PM <DIR> WinZip
12/17/2011 12:33 PM <DIR> Xinox Software
0 File(s) 0 bytes
70 Dir(s) 233,061,163,008 bytes free

C:\Program Files>cd \Java
The system cannot find the path specified.

\Program Files>path
PATH=C:\Program Files\AMD APP\bin\x86;C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Sh
ared\Windows Live;C:\windows\system32;C:\windows;C:\windows\Sys tem32\Wbem;C:\win
dows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Shared;C:\Pr
ogram Files\ATI Technologies\ATI.ACE\Core-Static;C:\Program Files\WIDCOMM\Blueto
oth Software\;C:\Program Files\Broadcom\Broadcom 802.11;C:\Program Files\QuickTi
me\QTSystem\;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\Pro gram Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_02\bi
n;.

C:\Program Files> Java
Error: could not open `C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\lib\i386\jvm.cfg'


C:\>java -version
Error: could not open `C:\Program Files\Java\jre7\lib\i386\jvm.cfg'

also cannot open java icon from control panel

hope you have time to look at this but i understand if you dont...

Try going to C:\Program Files\Java using the windows explorer. Then click search and type javac, hit enter. If you don't find it let us know.