cmd doesn't search my path for programs

[israelhsu]

Hello.

I'm running Windows XP SP2, updated and virus-free and trojan-free. I
also have Cygwin installed and running.

When I use cmd, many (most) programs cannot be found even though the
PATH environment variable is correct. My PATH includes
%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%\system32\WBEM;E:\Programs\1-File
Utilities. The last directory contains some utility programs that did
not require an install (just copy and use), for example, pdftk.exe.
I've checked the PATH by running "echo %PATH%" and by looking in My
Computer > Properties > Advanced > Environment Variables.

In cmd, when I type "pdftk", it works only if the current directory is
E:\Programs\1-File Utilities. Otherwise, the error is given: 'pdftk' is
not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or
batch file.

My PATHEXT also includes .EXE (is PATHEXT case sensitive?)

I *can* run "notepad" from cmd (which is located in
%SystemRoot%\system32).

Help! I've run out of ideas It seems that the cmd is not searching the
PATH.

Thanks.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Hello.

I'm running Windows XP SP2, updated and virus-free and trojan-free. I
also have Cygwin installed and running.

When I use cmd, many (most) programs cannot be found even though the
PATH environment variable is correct. My PATH includes
%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%\system32\WBEM;E:\Programs\1-
File
Utilities. The last directory contains some utility programs that did
not require an install (just copy and use), for example, pdftk.exe.
I've checked the PATH by running "echo %PATH%" and by looking in My
Computer > Properties > Advanced > Environment Variables.

In cmd, when I type "pdftk", it works only if the current directory is
E:\Programs\1-File Utilities. Otherwise, the error is given: 'pdftk' is
not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or
batch file.

My PATHEXT also includes .EXE (is PATHEXT case sensitive?)

I *can* run "notepad" from cmd (which is located in
%SystemRoot%\system32).

Help! I've run out of ideas It seems that the cmd is not searching the
PATH.

Thanks.

Type the command echo %path% from a Command
Prompt. Does it read litterally
%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%\system32\WBEM;E:\Programs\1-
File
Utilities

If so then the path key in the registry is of the wrong type. It is
kept here: HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment
and it must be of type REG_EXPAND_SZ, not REG_SZ.

 

[israelhsu]

Type the command echo %path% from a Command
Prompt. Does it read litterally
%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%\system32\WBEM;E:\Programs\1-
File
Utilities

No, it doesn't read that way literally. The variables are expanded
correctly (E:\WINDOWS). I just didn't want to confuse anyone by showing
that my system root is on drive E:.

And programs like notepad and ipconfig run from anywhere (they're
located in E:\WINDOWS\system32 I think.)

Any other ideas?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

You certainly confused me by quoting something other than
what it says one the screen, if only because unresolved variables
to cause this type of problem.

To home in on the problem you need to tell us a few things, e.g.
- Does the problem occur when you run commands from the
Command Prompt?
- Did you use cmd.exe to launch the Command Prompt?
- What is the exact path shown by echo %path%?
- What exact message do you get when things do not work?
- Give an example of a command that does not work!
- Where exactly does this command reside?

 

[israelhsu]

To home in on the problem you need to tell us a few things, e.g.
- Does the problem occur when you run commands from the
Command Prompt?

Yes. Also when I enter commands in the Run dialog (by pressing
Windows-R).

- Did you use cmd.exe to launch the Command Prompt?

Yes. I entered cmd or cmd.exe in the Run dialog.

- What is the exact path shown by echo %path%?

Without the intervening newlines which I inserted:
E:\WINDOWS\system32;E:\WINDOWS;E:\WINDOWS\system32\WBEM;E:\cygwin\bin;
E:\Program Files\QuickTime\QTSystem\;E:\Program Files\Common
Files\GTK\2.0\bin;
E:\Programs\php;e:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Tools\bin\;
E:\Programs\1-File Utilities;E:\Program Files\SSH Communications
Security\SSH Secure Shell;
E:\Program Files\gs\gs8.54\bin;

- What exact message do you get when things do not work?

command line:
E:\>pdftk.exe
'pdftk.exe' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

Using the Run dialog:
Windows cannot find 'pdftk.exe'. Make sure you typed the name
correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start
button, and then click Search.

- Give an example of a command that does not work!

I already did! pdftk.exe (See http://www.accesspdf.com/pdftk/)

- Where exactly does this command reside?

This was also stated in the original post, but for emphasis:

E:\Programs\1-File Utilites>dir pdftk.exe
Volume in drive E is Windows
Volume Serial Number is E080-19F5

Directory of E:\Programs\1-File Utilites

11/28/2006 05:30 PM 2,309,120 pdftk.exe

Thanks again for your help.

 

[israelhsu]

Ohhhh. I'm really embarrassed now. Thanks, Pegasus, for your very
directed questions. Right after posting my response, I noticed the
misspelled folder name. I'm sorry for wasting your time!

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Ohhhh. I'm really embarrassed now. Thanks, Pegasus, for your very
directed questions. Right after posting my response, I noticed the
misspelled folder name. I'm sorry for wasting your time!

That's OK - this is why I asked the seemingly pedantic questions!