Setting Windows PowerShell environment variables

Question

I have found out that setting the PATH environment variable affects only the old command prompt. PowerShell seems to have different environment settings. How do I change the

Answer 1

From the PowerShell prompt:

setx PATH "$env:path;\the\directory\to\add" -m

You should then see the text:

SUCCESS: Specified value was saved.

Restart your session, and the variable will be available. setx can also be used to set arbitrary variables. Type setx /? at the prompt for documentation.

Before messing with your path in this way, make sure that you save a copy of your existing path by doing $env:path >> a.out in a PowerShell prompt.