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

Question

You can also use this direct command line to open the Advanced System Properties:

sysdm.cpl

Then go to the Advanced Tab -> Environment Variables

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.

Control Panel -> User Accounts -> User Accounts -> Change my environment variables.

Step by step instructions:

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

Under "Start" enter "environment" in the search field. That will list the option to change the system variables directly in the start menu.

This can be done from the command line using the SETX command. For example to 'move' your temporary files to another disk:

SETX TEMP d:\tmp

In command line prompt:

set __COMPAT_LAYER=RUNASINVOKER
SystemPropertiesAdvanced.exe

Now you can set user environment variables.