Description:
I installed the following packages on my computer, then later uninstalled them:
myodbc 3.51.10
mysql 4.1.8
mysql administrator 1.0.18
After this, I noticed commands like net, ping, etc... did not work anymore. The path environment variable was correct, but it was not running those commands outside of the system32 folder. I traced the problem down and found an article explaining the issue:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/support/faqw2kcp.mspx
The last question indicates the problem. The data type of the PATH value written to the registry was a REG_SZ, while it should have been a REG_EXPAND_SZ. This caused Windows not to search the path.
I am not sure which package it was that caused this, but I think it may have been the server package. It may have been during install or uninstall as well.
How to repeat:
Install packages above, then uninstall them. Try to use a command that resides in the system32 directory such as ping or net stat.
Suggested fix:
Examine code modifications to the registry:
Key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\SessionManager\Environment
Value: PATH
Ensure references in the installer and uninstaller use the type REG_EXPAND_SZ instead of REG_SZ.
The article listed in the description lists instructions for manually fixing the problem.
