Environment Variables Shortcut - Create in Windows

How to Create an "Environment Variables" Shortcut in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8

information   Information
Environment variables are a set of dynamic named values that can affect the way running processes will behave on a computer.

See also: Recognized Environment Variables

This tutorial will show you how to download or create an "Environmental Variables" shortcut that both a standard user and administrator can use in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.

Note   Note
For Standard Users:
After you have downloaded or created the Environmental Variables shortcut in the tutorial below, you will not need to do anything else. Standard users will only be able to change their own user variables, and will not be able to change system variables.

For Administrators:
After you have downloaded or created the Environmental Variables shortcut in the tutorial below, you will need to additionally do these steps below to have the shortcut always run as administrator. Afterwards, administrators will be able to change both their own user variables and the system variables.
  1. Right click or press & hold on "Environmental Variable" shortcut, and click/tap on Properties.
  2. Click/tap on the Shortcut tab, and click/tap on the Advanced button.
  3. Check the Run as administrator box, and click/tap on OK twice.
Environment_Variables_elevate-.jpg


EXAMPLE: Environment Variables
Environment_Variables.jpg






OPTION ONE

To Download an "Environment Variables" Shortcut


1. Click/tap on the download button below to download the file below.​
Evironment_Variables_Shortcut.zip
download
2. Save the .zip file to your desktop.​
3. Open the .zip file, and extract (drag and drop) the Environment Variables shortcut to the desktop.​
4. Unblock the Environment Variables shortcut.​
NOTE: If you do not have an Unblock button under the General tab, then the shortcut is already unblocked and you can continue on to step 5.​
5. See the blue Note box at the top of the tutorial, and apply if needed.​
6. In Vista and Windows 7, you can now Pin to Taskbar (Windows 7 only) or Pin to Start Menu, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.​
7. In Windows 8, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.​
8. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .zip file if you like.​





OPTION TWO

To Manually Create an "Environment Variables" Shortcut


1. Right click or press and hold on an empty area on your desktop, and click/tap on New and Shortcut.​
2. Copy and paste the location below into the location area, and click/tap on the Next button. (see screenshot below)​
%windir%\System32\rundll32.exe sysdm.cpl,EditEnvironmentVariables
Environment_Variables_shortcut-1.jpg
3. Type Environment Variables for the name, and click/tap on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: You can name this anything you would like though.
Environment_Variables_shortcut-2.jpg
4. Right click or press and hold on the new Environment Variables shortcut, and click/tap on Properties.​
5. Click/tap on the Shortcut tab, then click/tap on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)​
Environment_Variables_shortcut-3.jpg
6. In the line under "Look for icons in this file", copy and paste the path below and press Enter. (see screenshot below)​
%SystemRoot%\System32\imageres.dll
Environment_Variables_shortcut-4.jpg
7. Select the icon highlighted in blue above, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot above)​
NOTE: You can use any icon that you would like instead though.​
8. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 5)​
9. See the blue Note box at the top of the tutorial, and apply if needed.​
10. In Vista and Windows 7, you can now Pin to Taskbar (Windows 7 only) or Pin to Start Menu, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.​
11. In Windows 8, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.​


That's it,
Shawn


 

Attachments

  • Evironment_Variables_Shortcut.zip
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  • System.png
    System.png
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