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I can no longer launch programs just by typing the program name in a command window. For instance, typing "notepad" and then enter gives me "bad command or filename". If I recall correctly Windows XP would automatically pick up the executable. If I type "notepad.exe" and hit enter, then notepad starts as expected. Did something change on my system, or did I just remember wrong?

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did your PATHEXT environment variable get overwritten?

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certainly looks like the "groovy" programming language is the only extension in there. – nathan Nov 2 at 4:37
Yup. that was it. For some reason the groovy installation overwrote my PATHEXT. I corrected the problem and everything works as it should. Thanks! – nathan Nov 2 at 4:39
Might want to contact Groovy and check if they have a bug. They shouldn't be changing PATHEXT, they should be using assoc.exe and filetypes. – James Deville Nov 2 at 4:42

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