Update environment variables from the command line (Windows 2008 Server Core)

Question

Fairly straightforward question. I need to update my PATH environment variable in Windows Server 2008 Core. Considering there's no GUI, how is this done from the command line?

Answer 1

from the Mueller book Administering Windows Server 2008 core - use WMIC

WMIC Environment Where Name="Path" SET VariableValue="C:\Temp;%PATH%

Answer 2

To make persistent changes use setx.

For example, to add a folder to the end of the current path, use:

SETX Path %Path%;C:\MyFolder

Your change won't be visible in the current cmd.exe session, but it will be in all future ones.

SETX also allows setting system environment variables on remote systems.

Answer 3

As it has always been done since DOS times:

SET PATH = C:\SomeDir
SET PATH = %PATH%;C:\AnotherDir