Scenario: Accidentally cleared or corrupted PATH variable in Windows
Emergency Recovery Method:
- Open Process Explorer (SysInternals tool)
- Find any running process (e.g.,
explorer.exe) - Right-click → Properties → Environment tab
- Locate the cached PATH value from the process’s environment block
- Copy the complete PATH string (Ctrl+C)
- System Properties → Environment Variables → Restore PATH
Why This Works: Running processes maintain a copy of their environment variables at launch time, including the original PATH.
Permanent Fix Considerations:
- Check system restore points for PATH backup
- Compare with known good system’s PATH structure
- Reinstall affected software if PATH entries missing
Prevention: Always export PATH before modifications:
echo $env:PATH > path_backup.txt (for pwsh)