MCSA/MCSE Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-270): Installing ...

5-34 Chapter 5 Configuring Windows XP Professional
How to Configure Environment Variables
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Environment variables define the system and user environment information, and
they contain information such as a drive, path, or file name. Environment variables
provide information that Windows XP Professional uses to control various applications.
For example, the TEMP environment variable specifies where some applications place
temporary files.
In the Advanced tab of the System Properties dialog box, click Environment Variables
to display the system and user environment variables that are currently in effect in the
Environment Variables dialog box (see Figure 5-13).
Figure 5-13 Environment variables control the system and user environment.
System Environment Variables
Because system environment variables apply to the entire computer, they also affect all
users of the computer. During installation, Setup configures the default system environment
variables, including the path to the Windows XP Professional files. Only an
administrator can add, modify, or remove a system environment variable.
User Environment Variables
The user environment variables differ for each user of a particular computer. The user
environment variables include any user-defined settings (such as a desktop pattern)
and any variables defined by applications (such as the path to the location of the application
files). Users can add, modify, or remove their user environment variables in the
System Properties dialog box.