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

Question

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?

Answer 1

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).

Answer 2

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.

Answer 3

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\

Answer 4

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\