Nvm is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

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There are many different ways to install node.js on a computer. The simplest method to verify whether node.js has been properly installed in your computer is simply type node-v in the command prompt or Windows PowerShell.

But many times, it happens, most commonly if you’re a beginner, the command prompt prints the output something like this:

This is the most common error and it is very simple to resolve this. It might be a case that the user might have properly installed node from the official node website. But sometimes, the reason is that the path variable is not defined in your system. So to properly define a path variable and resolve this error, follow these simple steps:

1. Open the Environment Variables option in your Control Panel. (Go to Control Panel -> System and Security ->System -> Advanced System Settings-> Environment Variables ->User Variables or System Variables.)

2. Select the variable named Path. A dialogue box named Edit user variable will appear. In the variable value option inside that dialogue box, paste the complete path of the location where node.js is installed in your system.Then click on OK.

3. Restart the command prompt again and now verify by typing node-v in the command prompt. It will now display the version of the node which you’ve installed from the internet .

To manage multiple Node.js versions on windows, you are going to use and install node-windows. After installation, you run following commands to setup specific node version:

and if you get following message
‘node’ is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.
then read this post to troubleshoot the issue.

Troubleshooting:

1. Make sure before installation, there was no existing Node.js installed on your machine. If installed then uninstall all and install nvm again.
2. During nvm installation, make sure the selected path must NOT exist.

Suppose if you selected “C:\Program Files\nodejs” in installation then nodejs must NOT exist in “Program Files” folder. It will be created by setup. If there is already folder then delete it, run “nvm use” command and test it again.

3. You must run command as administrator.

“Start” > type “cmd” > right-click and “run as administrator”

4. Before install node, run “nvm on” command then install and use specific node version

5. If problem still exists, check following

It will show the selected path.

In %PATH%, both paths should be there.

In NVM_HOME path folder, you will get the node version folder (i.e. v4.7.2) which has node.exe, npm, node_modules folders…etc. If all files are there then problem to create symlink. Try to create symlink manually :

then you will get the exact error message. it may be permission issue or path already exists. so you can take action accordingly.

Hope it helps. Enjoy Node.js !!