Arlen,

The problem is the registry AppPaths key doesn't seem to use the %PATH%.
[HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\]

Thats correct. And it won't work, as a path to an executable or file,
*anywhere* else either (regardless of registry, Win+R or CMD window).

Why ? Well, just compare whats inside that "path" environment variable
with any of the other paths you've been using to refer to any (of your)
shortcuts, batchfiles, scripts, executables or other. Can you spot the
difference ?

Yep, thats the reason.

As for that %system32% variable ? You don't need it. What you *do* need
is to read up to what that %path% environment variable is for, and use it as
intended. An that means you do *not* try to use it directly.

Sorry, no "silver platter" or "spoon feeding" for you today. :-)

Regards,
Rudy Wieser