Programatically get system32 path in command prompt

Question

I'm using a command process in another program that for some odd reason does not have the system32 set in the path environment variable. I can use the %comspec% variable to get the path C:/windows/system32/cmd.exe, but I need to just have the folder by itself.

I am not overly familiar with command prompt programming; is there a way that I can just add the system32 (or equivalent) path programmatically?

See http://stackoverflow.com/questions/778135/how-do-i-get-the-equivalent-of-dirname-in-a-batch-file — Chelsea Urquhart, Aug 29 '14 at 13:39
Personally, I'd try googling "Path Editor". Your quest is not clear. DO you just want to add the system32 directory to the path? — Magoo, Aug 29 '14 at 13:45

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 29 '14 at 13:33

3

What do you mean programmatically? If you're refering to a variable, there is no standard variable for system32. However you could use %WINDIR%\system32 or %systemroot%\system32.

answered Aug 29 '14 at 13:33

Peter Noble

675
10
21

Sorry, should have been more specific. I needed to get the system32 folder or its equivalent on different windows systems – Christian Boler Aug 29 '14 at 13:47
Has this answer helped you? – Peter Noble Sep 01 '14 at 05:32
Unfortunately it did not, sorry. – Christian Boler Sep 03 '14 at 17:56
`%systemroot%\system32` might be better, see [What is difference between %WinDir% and %SystemRoot%?](https://superuser.com/a/638335/903729) – fmnijk Jan 27 '23 at 01:37

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 26 '21 at 17:00

1

While it appears that there is no environment variable for obtaining the system32 folder (or its equivalent) on a system, I did find a solution involving string manipulation. The following block of code will add the folder where the cmd.exe path is located:

SET str=%ComSpec%
SET str=%str:cmd.exe=%
SET PATH=%PATH%;%str%

edited Jul 26 '21 at 17:00

Badhan Sen

617
1
7
18

answered Aug 29 '14 at 13:46

Christian Boler

151
2
17

score -2 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 14 '17 at 13:33

-2

It is very nice answer. i have tried and worked out. This problem comes with window7 OS probably.

    SET str=%ComSpec%
    SET str=%str:cmd.exe=%
    SET PATH=%PATH%;%str%

edited Jun 14 '17 at 13:33

piet.t

11,718
21
43
52

answered Jun 14 '17 at 12:15

Sundar

1

Please put comments into the comments, not as an answer of it's own. – not my real name Sep 12 '19 at 21:47

Programatically get system32 path in command prompt

3 Answers3