How to set user environment variables in Windows Server 2008 R2 as a normal user?

Question

In older versions of Windows, it was just open the Control Panel, select the System applet, select the Advanced tab, and then hit the Environment variables button. As a normal user, you could edit the "User variables" but not the "System variables".

In Windows Server 2008 R2, if I try to hit the Advanced System settings option in the System applet, it prompts for the Administrator password.

Answer 1

Not sure about making it permanent but you can do the following on the command line...

SET test=hello

echo %test%

Answer 2

OK I found it. Arg, an exercise in frustration. They left the old window menu traversal path for changing environment variables in there, but limited access to administrators only. As a normal user, if you want to change it, you need to go through a different set of options to arrive at the same frigging window.

You need to go to the Control Panel, select User Accounts, select User Accounts again, and then you can select Change my environment variables.

Answer 3

Step by step instructions:

• Go to Control Panel \System and Security\System
• Click on Change Settings
• Go to “Advance” tab
• Click on Environment Variables