What is the default PATH environment variable setting on fresh install of Windows 7

A user of ours cleared their path, thanks to some directions on the internet.

What is the default path, I am a developer so I have tons of extra stuff in mine, what should my user get on a plain jane one?

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4 Answers

According to this MVP, on Vista it was:

%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem

I would assume the same for Windows 7. I also have \Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\ as one of my first entries so you might want to add it as well since PowerShell was shipped with Windows 7.

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I just finished installing Windows 7 Enterprise SP1-U (x64 English) in a virtual machine. I can certify the following as the default Path environment variables. Note that I haven't installed anything (not even the "additions", "drivers", or "tools") into the virtual machine.

Default system Path environment variable (the inconsistent capitalization is as-is):

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

There is no default user Path environment variable (i.e., no such variable was set).

Sorry, mine's no longer "plain jane" but I've removed the obvious added items (this is on 64 bit, remove the (x86) bits if you're on 32):

PATH=C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem;C:\Windows\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\

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There's really no such thing as a default Path; it changes as software and devices are installed/removed. However, at a bare minimum, your Path should contain:

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

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