Setting and getting windows environment variables from the command prompt?

Question

This is a very basic question, but I can't find an answer. I want to set an environment variable from the command prompt and then be able to access it globally (for instance, I should see it by going to system -> environment variables).

When I use the set command, it isn't accessible in a new cmd session.

set NEWVAR=SOMETHING
echo %NEWVAR%

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Answer 1

To make the environment variable accessible globally you need to set it in the registry. As you've realised by just using:

set NEWVAR=SOMETHING

you are just setting it in the current process space.

According to this page you can use the setx command:

setx NEWVAR SOMETHING

which is only available if you install the Windows Resource Kit

Answer 2

In Windows, just like in Unix-based OSes, a process can only change environment of its own, also create processes that get a copy of its environment.