Environment Variables questions and format questions

thebat1

Member
I have a
HP Pavilion dv7t-1000 CTO Entertainment Notebook PC
64bit with Windows Vista Home premium


Recently I had a friend take it and wipe it to start fresh.
when I got it back it is still pointing to a bizarre path..?? (which is one of the reasons I wanted to start fresh. It points to:

PATH
%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\Power2Go;%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\

PATHEXT
.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH;.MSC

why would this be the case? When I got it back I see that some things like my extra monitor was already installed.. (Before I even hooked it up??) and some folders I had renamed example folder.OLD was still here. (and many other things that lead me to believe it did not get formatted correctly. (and could still have virus?):cry:
He used my factory disks. (which I do have)
can anyone advise me on what is going on?
thanks so much!!

 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP m9400t
    CPU
    2 Quad CPU Q6700 @2.66GHZ 2.67 GHz
    Motherboard
    unfortunately what ever HP put here... Wont do that again..
    Memory
    4 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gforce 9300 GE
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Def
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster T24ooHD digital and Acer AL2216W
I've had a bunch of HP machines. But I never used the restore. I'm not sure if it formats or just installs over what's there. It may leave files and folders that are in subfolders of programs that come bundled with the machine assuming it's data or something. The path looks fine to me. That %SystemRoot% stuff is just a way to use environment variables in case the system is not installed on C:\Windows.

If you really just want the OS and not the bundled software see the threads about ISO download for Vista. You can evaluate for 90 days perfectly legally. There are also tutorials how to extend the evaluation by 30 days.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G
    2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
I've had a bunch of HP machines. But I never used the restore. I'm not sure if it formats or just installs over what's there. It may leave files and folders that are in subfolders of programs that come bundled with the machine assuming it's data or something. The path looks fine to me. That %SystemRoot% stuff is just a way to use environment variables in case the system is not installed on C:\Windows.

If you really just want the OS and not the bundled software see the threads about ISO download for Vista. You can evaluate for 90 days perfectly legally. There are also tutorials how to extend the evaluation by 30 days.

No I have never used RESTORE myself... I was talking about re installing windows .. not roll back to a earlier time as I always have that disabled. (that causes huge problems...)
I thought the path should be set to program files and program files (x86) for 32 bit programs?
confused.gif

also why would drivers for hardware that I have not hooked up already be installed?

I really dont want a 90+ day trail of windows... I already paid for this one...
(Unfortunately I did not realize it was crippled version..(HP's version) of windows...
I had been spoiled to having my own CD and a real copy of Windows not pre made version..
(I know I started different than most.. LOL)
not being able to mess with video settings in the bios and having all this bloatware is new to me and I am not happy with all that...I was shocked to see what MOST people get when buying a pre made pc...
anyway...
thanks for replying!
:)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP m9400t
    CPU
    2 Quad CPU Q6700 @2.66GHZ 2.67 GHz
    Motherboard
    unfortunately what ever HP put here... Wont do that again..
    Memory
    4 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gforce 9300 GE
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Def
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster T24ooHD digital and Acer AL2216W
It's been awhile since I ran the HP program to install the bundled software. I.m not familiar with the options. I would think there would be a clean reinstall where the disk would be formatted. But perhapd there;s a no format option that your friend used. There are HP support forums where you should be able to get an answer specific to your HP model.

Hopefully somebody with a simialr HP will chime in here.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion m9515y
    CPU
    Phenom X4 9850
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Some Radeon Cheapie with 512 MB Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    CRT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    750 GB SATA 3G
    2 SIIG Superspeed docks w/WD Caviar Black Sata II or III
I thought the path should be set to program files and program files (x86) for 32 bit programs?
confused.gif

Not true. As each program is installed, it can add itself to the PATH but the system doesn't do this automatically.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770 CPU @ 3.40GHz, 3401 Mhz, 4 Core(s)
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750, Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 27" C27F398 Curved Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080 (HDMI)
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 840 EVO 250GB
    Seagate ST2000NM001 2TB
    Seagate ST31500341AS 1.5TB
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Lenovo USB
    Internet Speed
    50MB Down, 10MB Up
  • Operating System
    Windows 7 Pro X64
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP xw4400 Workstation
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    HP 0A68h
    Memory
    5GB
    Graphics card(s)
    ATI FireGL V3300
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer KN242HYL 24" (KVMS)
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1080
    Hard Drives
    Seagate ST3120026As 120GB SATA (boot)
    Toshiba DT01ACA200 2TB SATA
    Mouse
    Logitech via KVMS switch
    Keyboard
    Dell USB via KVMS switch
    Internet Speed
    50 Down, 10 Up
    Other Info
    Apache Web Server since 2001
PATH
%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;C:\Program Files (x86)\CyberLink\Power2Go;%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\

Nothing unusual here.
PATHEXT is also quite ordinary.

The PATH environment variable specifies a number of folders that will be searched when you enter a command on the command line. This saves you from having to enter the full path. A path to the program files folder itself would be pointless as it does not contain any files, only folders. An application may add to the path variable if it wishes. Most do not.
 

My Computer

Ok thanks everyone...about the path clarification.... Appreciate that..:)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP m9400t
    CPU
    2 Quad CPU Q6700 @2.66GHZ 2.67 GHz
    Motherboard
    unfortunately what ever HP put here... Wont do that again..
    Memory
    4 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gforce 9300 GE
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Def
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster T24ooHD digital and Acer AL2216W
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