So, my path variable (System->Adv Settings->Env Vars->System->PATH) is set to:

C:\Python26\Lib\site-packages\PyQt4\bin;
%SystemRoot%\system32;
%SystemRoot%;
%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;
%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;
C:\Python26\;
C:\Python26\Scripts\;
C:\cygwin\bin;
"C:\PathWithSpaces\What_is_this_bullshit";
"C:\PathWithSpaces 1.5\What_is_this_bullshit_1.5";
"C:\PathWithSpaces (2.0)\What_is_this_bullshit_2.0";
"C:\Program Files (x86)\IronPython 2.6";
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Subversion\bin";
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Git\cmd";
"C:\Program Files (x86)\PuTTY";
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Mercurial";
Z:\droid\android-sdk-windows\tools;

Although, obviously, without the newlines.

Notice the lines containing PathWithSpaces - the first has no spaces, the second has a space, and the third has a space followed by a parenthesis.

Now, notice the output of this batch file:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\bin\>vcvars32.bat
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\bin>"C:\Program Files (x86
)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\Tools\vsvars32.bat"
Setting environment for using Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 x86 tools.
\What_is_this_bullshit_2.0";"C:\Program was unexpected at this time.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\VC\bin>      set "PATH=C:\Pro
gram Files\Microsoft SDKs\Windows\v6.0A\bin;C:\Python26\Lib\site-packages\PyQt4\
bin;C:\Windows\system32;C:\Windows;C:\Windows\System32\Wbem;C:\Windows\System32\
WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\Python26\;C:\Python26\Scripts\;C:\cygwin\bin;"C:\Path
WithSpaces\What_is_this_bullshit";"C:\PathWithSpaces 1.5\What_is_this_bullshit_1
.5";"C:\PathWithSpaces (2.0)\What_is_this_bullshit_2.0";"C:\Program Files (x86)\
IronPython 2.6";"C:\Program Files (x86)\Subversion\bin";"C:\Program Files (x86)\
Git\cmd";"C:\Program Files (x86)\PuTTY";"C:\Program Files (x86)\Mercurial";Z:\dr
oid\android-sdk-windows\tools;"

or specifically the line:

\What_is_this_bullshit_2.0";"C:\Program was unexpected at this time.

So, what is this bullshit?

Specifically:

• Directory in path that is properly escaped with quotes, but with no spaces = fine
• Directory in path that is properly escaped with quotes, and has spaces but no parenthesis = fine
• Directory in path that is properly escaped with quotes, and has spaces and has a parenthesis = ERROR

Whats going on here? How can I fix this? I'll probably resort to a junction point to let my tools still work as workaround, but if you have any insight into this, please let me know :)