System environment variable won't stick

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  1. mck
    Posts : 142
    Windows 10 Home
       #1

    System environment variable won't stick


    Running Win10 Home on an Acer Spin 3, 64bit, i7cpu. I try to add a path to the system environment variables by:

    1. Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Advanced tab > Environment variables

    2. The "Environment Variables" window opens.
    3. In the "System Variables" pane I select "Path" and click the EDIT button.
    4. A list of the current system paths is displayed.
    5. I click the NEW button, browse to the path I want to add which is "C:\Python36-32" and click OK. The path "C:\Python36-32" is added to the list of current system paths.
    6. I click OK and am returned to the "Environment Variables" window.
    7. I click the "X" at the top right to close the "Environment Variables" window.

    Now if I click the "Environment Variables" button again (end of step-1) and repeat steps 2-4, the new path I added in step-5 is gone. IOW, adding a new path won't stick.

    What am I doing wrong?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 8,057
    windows 10
       #2

    If you open a CMD prompt type set does it show there how long is the path could it be to long 256 is the max length unless your on new version
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  3. mck
    Posts : 142
    Windows 10 Home
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Samuria said:
    If you open a CMD prompt type set does it show there how long is the path could it be to long 256 is the max length unless your on new version
    Doing what you suggested above, the path is 200 characters. Here's a copy:

    Path=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\WINDOWS\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v 1.0\;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\AGL;C:\Users\Mo Spin3\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps

    Any other ideas appreciated. Thanks.
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  4. Posts : 31,459
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #4

    Samuria said:
    If you open a CMD prompt type set does it show there how long is the path could it be to long 256 is the max length unless your on new version
    256 characters is the limit on an individual path, but PATH is an environment variable that happens to contain multiple paths. None of the paths it contains should be longer that 256 characters, but...

    The theoretical maximum length of an environment variable is around 32,760 characters...

    ... On the other hand, maybe you're setting the Environment registry key, in which case you run into a 2048-character limit in the code that parses that registry key and builds an environment block out of it...
    https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/old...03-00/?p=15083

    Even 2048 characters is far longer than the few hundred @mck needs.

    Doing what you suggested above, the path is 200 characters. Here's a copy:
    Path=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\WINDOWS\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v 1.0\;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\AGL;C:\Users\Mo Spin3[\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps
    I've just added another path to PATH in the way described in the OP. Not only does adding a new path 'stick', but my PATH is now 514 characters. There is obviously something getting in the way of @mck adding a path, but it's not a character limit.
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  5. mck
    Posts : 142
    Windows 10 Home
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Bree said:
    256 characters is the limit on an individual path, but PATH is an environment variable that happens to contain multiple paths. None of the paths it contains should be longer that 256 characters, but...

    https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/old...03-00/?p=15083

    Even 2048 characters is far longer than the few hundred @mck needs.

    I've just added another path to PATH in the way described in the OP. Not only does adding a new path 'stick', but my PATH is now 514 characters. There is obviously something getting in the way of @mck adding a path, but it's not a character limit.
    Bree,

    Thank you for testing the procedure on your PC. After a lot of Googling before opening this thread, I saw folks who could and could not add a path the way I described. There seems to be something with either the version of Win10 installed or something in the PC itself that prevents updating the system environment variable's path.

    Is your version Win10 home? I have Win10 home on my Acer Spin3 laptop.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 31,459
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #6

    mck said:
    Bree,

    Thank you for testing the procedure on your PC... Is your version Win10 home? I have Win10 home on my Acer Spin3 laptop.
    Yes @mck, Win10 Home (x64) version 1607 os build 14393.693 (English International, EN-GB) on Toshiba L750. The path I added is still there after a full shutdown and restart. It was something I'd been meaning to add anyway, but not got round to yet. You gave me a good excuse to try :)
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  7. mck
    Posts : 142
    Windows 10 Home
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Bree said:
    Yes @mck, Win10 Home (x64) version 1607 os build 14393.693 (English International, EN-GB) on Toshiba L750. The path I added is still there after a full shutdown and restart. It was something I'd been meaning to add anyway, but not got round to yet. You gave me a good excuse to try :)
    Hi Bree,

    I also have Win10 Home (x64) version 1607 os build 14393.693. (English U.S.)
    I wonder if the version of Win10 Home that came with my Acer Spin3, 64bit, i7, 12GB laptop is a modified OEM version of Win10 Home?

    If I'm unable to find a solution to my problem, if I download a Win10 Home (x64) and do a fresh install, would the activation be automatic as I've read that Win10 is supposed to work? I don't know the Win10 product key on my laptop since it came preinstalled from the factory.

    If you don't know, if anyone who does know can chime in, it will be appreciated.
    Also a link for where to download a good copy of Win10 Home would also be appreciated, though I could search these forums for an answer.

    Thanks,
    mck
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 31,459
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #8

    Yes, with a previously activated Win10 on the PC its hardware ID is registered on Microsoft's activation servers. You can skip entering a key if asked (there's an 'I don't have one' link) and it should activate automatically once it can contact the activation servers.

    You may like to try an in-place repair install first - you can keep all your files and installed apps that way.
    Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade
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  9. mck
    Posts : 142
    Windows 10 Home
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Bree said:
    Yes, with a previously activated Win10 on the PC its hardware ID is registered on Microsoft's activation servers. You can skip entering a key if asked (there's an 'I don't have one' link) and it should activate automatically once it can contact the activation servers.

    You may like to try an in-place repair install first - you can keep all your files and installed apps that way.
    Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade
    Ohh, that is really helpful advice! I'm on vacation right now but will try an in-place repair install when I return home.

    Thanks much,
    mck
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 31,459
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #10

    mck said:
    ... will try an in-place repair install when I return home.
    To get Windows 10 from Microsoft...
    Windows 10 ISO Download
      My Computers


 

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