Where can I set path to make.exe on Windows?

Question

When I try run make from cmd-console on Windows, it runs Turbo Delphi's make.exe but I need MSYS's make.exe. There is no mention about Turbo Delphi in %path% variable, maybe I can change it to MSYS in registry?

This question should be re-written to be more high-level eg "how to append/update path environment variable on Windows", since the question is specific to a particular .exe file. — KERR, Jun 17 '21 at 12:54

Natalie Adams · Accepted Answer · 2018-08-17T20:24:02.787

87

The path is in the registry but usually you edit through this interface:

Go to Control Panel -> System -> System settings -> Environment Variables.
Scroll down in system variables until you find PATH.
Click edit and change accordingly.
BE SURE to include a semicolon at the end of the previous as that is the delimiter, i.e. c:\path;c:\path2
Launch a new console for the settings to take effect.

edited Aug 17 '18 at 20:24

answered Oct 24 '09 at 15:36

Natalie Adams

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no effect, still Borlans's make.exe runs. I think it must be in registry, because >>There is no mention about Turbo Delphi in %path% variable – d9k Oct 24 '09 at 15:40
OK, when I tried "echo %path%" I saw Turbo Delphi's path in the middle of the long string. Thank you and sorry for inattention. – d9k Oct 24 '09 at 15:48
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Windows 10 has a few ways of arriving there now, and includes a new GUI for managing entries so you don't need to remember that pesky semi-colon anymore: http://superuser.com/questions/949560/how-do-i-set-system-environment-variables-in-windows-10 – Mike Branski Nov 28 '15 at 05:11
Use the Windows command "where" to find out where make.exe lives. For example: "where make.exe" Gives this result on my computer: C:\Program Files (x86)\Borland\Delphi7\Bin\make.exe If I had make.exe in other paths, it would show those. – mxmoss Sep 18 '18 at 15:45
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It would be easier to RUN or CMD/PowerShell to: rundll32.exe sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables This future-proofs it as MS keeps fiddling with the GUI. – KERR Jun 17 '21 at 11:03
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OMG :) Microsoft using this page as a part of documentation and guiding . https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/developer/terraform/get-started-windows-bash?tabs=bash – user8231110 Nov 17 '21 at 12:09
@user8231110 Ha ha ha Yes. – subhashis Oct 01 '22 at 12:29

score 42 · Answer 2 · edited Jun 17 '21 at 17:54

42

Here I'm providing solution to setup Terraform environment variable in windows for beginners.

Download the terraform ZIP file from Terraform site.
Extract the .exe from the ZIP file to a folder eg C:\Apps\Terraform copy this path location like C:\Apps\terraform\
Add the folder location to your PATH variable, eg: Control Panel -> System -> System settings -> Environment Variables

In System Variables, select Path > edit > new > Enter the location of the Terraform .exe, eg C:\Apps\Terraform then click OK

Open a new CMD/PowerShell and the Terraform command should work

edited Jun 17 '21 at 17:54

KERR

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answered May 02 '19 at 09:31

24x7Cloud Services

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What does this have to do with the question asked? – Mark Rotteveel May 02 '19 at 12:15
Hello @MarkRotteveel, I hve not asked question here, just I provided how to setup enviroment varible for terraform in windows – 24x7Cloud Services May 03 '19 at 10:05
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The question is about running MSYS make.exe from the windows command prompt. That has nothing to to with terraform. Your answer doesn't belong here. – Mark Rotteveel May 03 '19 at 10:15
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@MarkRotteveel agree but the 'mistake' is being fed from https://learn.hashicorp.com/terraform/getting-started/install – Jul 01 '19 at 10:52
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@MattBracewell Nothing in the question suggests that has anything to do with it, and Terraform didn't even exist when this question was asked back in 2009. – Mark Rotteveel Jul 02 '19 at 15:39
I got here from learn.microsoft.com – nicolascolman Oct 06 '22 at 10:54

score 12 · Answer 3 · edited Jun 17 '21 at 13:30

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Or you can just run this PowerShell command to append extra folder to the existing path:

$env:Path += ";C:\temp\terraform"

edited Jun 17 '21 at 13:30

General Grievance

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answered Oct 12 '19 at 21:40

Mladen Milunovic

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Powershell would not detect my environmentVar changes until i ran this powershell command, thank you – JrBriones Aug 26 '20 at 16:10
As far as I can tell this is only temporary - I added an answer to fix that. – KERR Jun 17 '21 at 10:58
This is an awesome solution. – Ashish-BeJovial May 27 '22 at 18:45

KERR · Answer 4 · 2021-06-17T11:06:36.360

To add a PERSISTENT path (eg one that's permanent), you can do this one-liner in PowerShell (adjust the last c:\apps\terraform part)

Set-ItemProperty -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment' -Name PATH -Value  (((Get-ItemProperty -Path 'Registry::HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment' -Name PATH).path) + ";c:\apps\terraform" )

Alternatively, you can jump directly to the Environment Variables dialog by RUNning/CMD/PowerShell this:

rundll32.exe sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables

score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 28 '18 at 20:41

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I had issues for a whilst not getting Terraform commands to run unless I was in the directory of the exe, even though I set the path correctly.

For anyone else finding this issue, I fixed it by moving the environment variable higher than others!

answered Aug 28 '18 at 20:41

Alex Thomas

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I tried but no use still unable to find terraform commands. Any other suggestions can you provide? – subhashis Oct 01 '22 at 12:30
My issue was: I was adding the full path of the exe file. You must ONLY add the directory path. NOT the 'terraform' at the end. – Arindam Roychowdhury Jan 10 '23 at 15:21

score 0 · Answer 6 · edited Mar 25 '18 at 01:01

Why don't you create a bat file makedos.bat containing the following line?

c:\DOS\make.exe %1 %2 %5

and put it in C:\DOS (or C:\Windowsè or make sure that it is in your %path%)

You can run from cmd, SET and it displays all environment variables, including PATH.

In registry you can find environment variables under:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Environment
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Volatile Environment
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Session Manager\Environment

score -1 · Answer 7 · answered Dec 29 '22 at 10:03

-1

just copy it to system32 call make1 or whatever if the name conflicts.

answered Dec 29 '22 at 10:03

EZpeasyNiceandSleezy

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Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please [edit] to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers [in the help center](/help/how-to-answer). – Community Dec 29 '22 at 21:05

Where can I set path to make.exe on Windows?

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