Need to recover older $PATH setting

Question

I have just installed an app which overwrote my $PATH variable... so now, a bunch of stuff will not work. While I have a full backup, I am hoping that there is an easier approach than to restore, get the PATH, the "roll it forward" again.

Is there a location in the windows registry (or anywhere else) that stores an older $PATH setting?

Thanks, GS

Hecklau

As far as I know, the only "backup" registry files that exist outside of system restore points are in \windows\system32\config, and are created at first-install, then left alone - this backup'd be unlikely to have your custom path in it. – Huambo

Answer 1

If anyone is interested, I found the answer... using REGEDIT, it is under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager\Environment or HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002\Control\Session Manager\Environment

In my case, it was under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet002...

GS

Hecklau

This answer has just saved me from terrible OS fixing job! And my case is same as the original answer, not sure whether it is a coincidence or some other reasons. – Borscht

i dont have a controlset002 – Tuyere

I have a path variable under controlset001, but its the wrong one. after i accidentally deleted System Path i made the mistake of copying and setting System Path to User Path. Should I delete the incorrect Path before doing a system restore? – Tuyere

Answer 2

type in cmd:

set path=%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;

above code will set the path temporarily. To set permanently, add %SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\; to System Properties -> Advanced System Settings -> Environment Variables

Mannie

Welcome to SO! Try to provide more explanation to your answers. See How to answer page for help in improving your answer. – Quindecennial

doesnt help restore the custom path variable before deletion – Tuyere