Restoring Windows XP PATH variable

Got the answer on Experts Exchange. Here is the excerpt:

Start regedit and check for the "Path" value in HKLM\System\ControlSet<xx>\Control\Session Manager\Environment (replace <xx> with all numbered ControlSet entries that are present. No need to check CurrentControlSet, it's one of the ControlSetxx keys, and you won't find anything under there.)

These are the "Last Know Good" configurations; if you're lucky, there's still one left that has a path variable.

If not, the bare minimum required is this:

C:\WINNT\system32;C:\WINNT;C:\WINNT\System32\Wbem

The default environment variables are stored in the registry under following key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment

Set the path variable to its default value here:

"C:\Windows\System32\;C:\Windows\;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem"

A system restore should restore the PATH variable.