title: Do I have to set $VIMRUNTIME if I have set $VIM?
body: <p>I have installed gvim on Windows.</p>
  
  <p>In order for gvim to find my <code>.vimrc</code> file I have set the <code>$VIM</code> (%VIM%) environment variable, pointing to the directory in which this <em>.vimrc</em> file is located.</p>
  
  <p>I have not set <code>$VIMRUNTIME</code> since <code>:help $vimruntime</code> says</p>
  
  <pre><code>You don't normally set $VIMRUNTIME yourself, but let Vim figure it out.
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>When I start gvim, it processes my <em>.vimrc</em> file, as expected, until the line with the command <code>sy on</code>. This command tries to load the syntax files, but it can't.</p>
  
  <p>I suspect the reason is this: As I have not set $VIMRUNTIME, vim automatically sets it to the value of $VIM. But under $VIM, there is no <code>syntax/syntax.vim</code> file. This syntax file is, however, under <code>c:\vim\vim73\syntax</code>.</p>
  
  <p>So, If I set $VIMRUNTIME specifically to <code>c:\vim\vim73</code>, everything seems to work.</p>
  
  <p>Now, why does the helpfile say I don't need to set $VIMRUNTIME if obviously I have to.</p>