Windows 10: Path environment variable empty after attempting to add new path

After trying to install ffmpeg using the guide in the link below, my path variable only includes the path to ffmpeg. I don't have any backups whatsoever and have closed the command prompt and restarted ever since. Is there a way to find out what programs need their path to be included in the list? BTW, ever since this happened, any program I wanna install, tries to install it in C:\Users\Bob\AppData\Local. I don't have a problem with changing it to C:\Program files, but does this have any other side effects and how can I bring that installation path back to normal?

this is the guide: https://www.wikihow.com/Install-FFmpeg-on-Windows

submitted by /u/yekemezek
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:)

 

System environment variable won't stick

Running Win10 Home on an Acer Spin 3, 64bit, i7cpu. I try to add a path to the system environment variables by:

1. Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Advanced tab > Environment variables

2. The "Environment Variables" window opens.
3. In the "System Variables" pane I select "Path" and click the EDIT button.
4. A list of the current system paths is displayed.
5. I click the NEW button, browse to the path I want to add which is "C:\Python36-32" and click OK. The path "C:\Python36-32" is added to the list of current system paths.
6. I click OK and am returned to the "Environment Variables" window.
7. I click the "X" at the top right to close the "Environment Variables" window.

Now if I click the "Environment Variables" button again (end of step-1) and repeat steps 2-4, the new path I added in step-5 is gone. IOW, adding a new path won't stick.

What am I doing wrong?

 

How to edit the user path environment variable (not system path)

I need to edit the user path environment variable (not the
system path), but it doesn't seem possible in any way. I have edited the user path before on another computer running Windows 7 by right clicking My Computer --> Advanced System Settings --> Environment Variables --> and editing the user path in the
top dialog box (not the system path in the bottom dialog box). I tried the same thing in Windows 10 but "path" doesn't show up in the user environment variables dialog box, only TEMP and TMP show up.

I also tried searching for path after hitting the windows key and clicking "Edit environment variables for your account" but nothing happens when I click it. If I search for "path" when in Control Panel, I also get the option to click "Edit environment variables
for your account" but again, nothing happens when I click it. I also tried running Regedit --> HKEY_CURRENT_USER --> Environment, but the same options of TEMP and TMP show up, with no "path" option. I have tried searching the web for hours trying to solve
this problem but I can't find a solution. Is there any other way to change edit the user path? Is Microsoft actively trying to address this problem? I am running on Windows 10 version 1511 OS build 10586.104. I am the only user on this machine and I am the
administrator.

 

Accidentally deleted the path of environment variables

I accidentally deleted the path of system environment variables, instead of editing it and adding a new one, in my Windows 10 Dell Laptop. I lost all the default variables that were there. How do I restore the previous variables? Please help