The Path Statement in Windows NT

ID: q93781

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1

SUMMARY

In a Windows NT path statement, the Windows NT system path always comes first. The string that you specify in "System Environment Variables" is appended to the system path. Then, the string specified in the default AUTOEXEC.NT is appended (this string is commonly found in the \SYSTEM32 directory or in a customized AUTOEXEC.BAT launched from a Program Information File [PIF]).

MORE INFORMATION

The Windows NT path statement is constructed as follows:

1. The Windows NT system path always comes first. For example:

      path=d:\winnt\system32

   The system path can be found in the System option in Control
   Panel, under System Environment Variables.

2. Next, the user-defined environment variable (if any) is added

   to the path statement. For example:

      path=c:\wp51;c:\dos

   This variable can be found in the System option in Control
   Panel, under User Environment Variables for {username}.

3. Finally, when a virtual DOS machine (VDM) is started, another

   specification is added. The VDM can be started by loading an
   MS-DOS or Windows 16-bit application.

   - If an MS-DOS application is launched, a customized
     AUTOEXEC.BAT file can be specified in a PIF for that
     application.

   - If an MS-DOS application is launched without a customized PIF,
     or a Windows 16-bit application is launched, then the default
     AUTOEXEC.NT found in the \SYSTEM32 directory is executed.

   Any path found in the AUTOEXEC file is appended to the statement
   constructed in steps 1 and 2.

Special Case: Os2LibPath

The Os2LibPath statement is appended to the system path statement, as follows:

   Os2LibPath=D:\winnt\system32\os2\dll;

This statement can be found in the System option in Control Panel, under System Environment Variables. This statement allows an OS2 application to find its supporting files, and has no effect on applications that start a VDM (such as Windows 16-bit and MS-DOS applications).

Additional query words: prodnt

Keywords          : kbother
Version           : 3.1
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: August 13, 1998