When I open a command prompt in WinXP and type

set FOOBAR=D:\test\project

then the env variable FOOBAR is set for this command prompt session (only !!) to the (new) value.
It is however NOT changed for the "global" environment of the whole machine.
To change it for the "global" machine I have always to go to

Control Panel->System->Advanced Tab->Environment Variable Button

and change it manually there.
This is very unconvenient.

Is there a way to change the "global" env variable values PERMANENTLY from command line/from batch script?

Maybe I have to change the Registry (where exactly) ?

Assume I want to change ONE path pattern in the PATH variable (not only add it).
Can I do this with a command similar to

CHANGEENVvalue.exe var=PATH "D:\myoldpath\" "D:\mynewpath\"

....and afterwards all path patterns are replaced permanently ?

Sebastian

"Sebastian Kaist" wrote:

> When I open a command prompt in WinXP and type
>
> set FOOBAR=D:\test\project
>
> then the env variable FOOBAR is set for this command prompt session (only !!) to the (new) value.
> It is however NOT changed for the "global" environment of the whole machine.
> To change it for the "global" machine I have always to go to
>
> Control Panel->System->Advanced Tab->Environment Variable Button
>
> and change it manually there.
> This is very unconvenient.
>
> Is there a way to change the "global" env variable values PERMANENTLY from command line/from batch script?
>
> Maybe I have to change the Registry (where exactly) ?
>
> Assume I want to change ONE path pattern in the PATH variable (not only add it).
> Can I do this with a command similar to
>
> CHANGEENVvalue.exe var=PATH "D:\myoldpath\" "D:\mynewpath\"
>
> ....and afterwards all path patterns are replaced permanently ?
>
> Sebastian
>

There is a tool in the Windows XP Service Pack 2 Support Tools named
setx.exe that allows you to change global Environment variables from the
command line.

Alister