Why are changes to my PATH not being recognised?

Problem

When I update my PATH using either the built-in Environment Variables dialog, or something like Path Editor, and then open up a command-prompt, the changes to my PATH will not register with the console, depending on where the command-prompt was started from. For example, if I edit my PATH and then start cmd.exe from the Start Menu or a shortcut on the Desktop, then my PATH looks fine: it has successfully been updated; however, if I start cmd.exe from a shortcut anywhere other than the Start Menu or Desktop, the new PATH does not get read and I get the old path instead. It's very strange. I've tried running the command prompt from a shortcut on the desktop and it works fine; I then copy that exact same shortcut to a sub-folder on the desktop, and I get the non-updating PATH problem. I realise this is quite hard to explain, so I created a screencast to show this issue in action. Site is dead. Here's a screenshot of the Command Prompt shortcut as seen in that screencast: This is on Windo…