Thanks for your research.

This issue has been added to the tracker:
Issue 1025 – Do not allow search path to exceed system limit of 2048 characters

found it.
after adding WinSCP to path, the string contained more than 2048 characters. That killed the variable.

See http://browse.feedreader.com/c/All_Geek_All_the_Time/4413037

Would you mind checking the path length prior to adding it?

Regards

What do you mean by "path extension"? The adding of WinSCP installation directory to %PATH%?

Anyway, WinSCP installer does not modify the WINDIR. So what value does it have, when the shortcuts do not work?

Hi,
after installing WinSCP, advanced mode with path extension, all shortcuts to files with %windir%, e.g. editor.exe, explorer.exe don't work anymore. It seems, as if the installation has killed the variable. Version 5.1.5 (3261)
Restarting the machine helps, but just until a logoff/logon occurs. I couldn't find a reason for this, maybe it has nothing to do with WinSCP, but it started just after installing it.

Regards