I want to change and update the PATH environment variable in Win2K server without restarting my computer. But I can't find a way to do it. Could any of you give me any idea.
Thank you.

========================================================
Right-Click "My Computer" icon on deskstop
Select Properties -> Advanced -> Environment Variables
Under "System varables" select PATH and then click on the "Edit" button

Yes, I did that. But it doesn't have effect until you reboot. So here is the situation: I need PHP working with Apache. I don't want to install in, just unzip the program. I need to put C:\PHP in the PATH, so that Apache will know where to find PHP. But Apache keeps reporting errors until I restart my computer. My guess is the PATH isn't updated until you reboot. That is my problem with PATH variable. Do you have any more thought.

I'm not sure about the PATH issue. I would assume you need to restart to have the change take effect. As an alternative, you should be able to define the location of PHP in the Apache configuration and then just restart Apache. I don't think it is necessary to have the PHP directory in the Windows PATH environment.

-Ryan Adams
http://RyanTAdams.com

I'm not sure what you meant about "the location of PHP". In my Apache Conf file I have these lines:
PHPIniDir "C:/PHP"
LoadModule php5_module "C:/PHP/php5apache2.dll"

Is it what you meant. I restart Apache after adding these above lines and this:

AddType application/x-httpd-php .php

It display an error saying that it can't find the php's dll files. But if I reboot, the problem is gone (with the new change in PATH variable).
Do you have any idea?

If you can restart Apache from a command-line window, you can make a temporary addition to PATH first, using the command SET PATH=%PATH%;C:\PHP

If not, use the Resource Kit tool SETX.EXE to make the change permanent before restarting Apache. Details here and download here