Windows doesn't seem to keep my system environment variables

Hi all,

As far as I can tell, my problem seems to be quite simple. The solution, however, may not be quite as simple.

The application I am trying to make work is python 3. I also have python 2 installed, but that works fine.

The problem is at the command prompt I would like to be able to type

Code:

python3

and have it launch the python 3 shell. Currently, all I get is

Code:

'python3' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

If I type

Code:

C:\Users\Jazzvibes>python
Python 2.6.5 (r265:79096, Mar 19 2010, 21:48:26) [MSC v.1500 32 bit (Intel)] on
win32
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>>

it already launches python 2 (which is correct).

I have already tried to put python3 as a system and user environment variable, in AFAIK the same way as python is set up. I changed this at the system properties window and then going to environment variables on the "Advanced" tab.

if I type

Code:

set

at the command prompt, I believe it should confirm this (please correct me if i'm mistaken)

Code:

python=C:\Python26\python.exe
python3=C:\Python31\python.exe

So, have I done something wrong, or left a step out? Please let me know if you need more info.

I should point out that typing a hard link to python3 using the address above does work, but I would like the shortcut for convenience (and to work out why it doesn't work in the first place)

My system for the record is Win7 64bit. Although both python installations are 32 bit versions (although i'm fairly sure that is trivial)

Regards,
Jazzvibes

Add C:\Python31 to the end of the existing path environment variable. You do this by adding a ; (semi colon) then the path to C:\Python31. That will make it accessible from a Command Prompt.