windows 7 - cmd needs ".exe" to run programs

Windows 7, cmd:

C:\>python
'python' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

C:\>python.exe
(works)

C:\>bash
'bash' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.
C:\>bash.exe
(works)

etc...

Is there a way to make e.g. python.exe run when I type "python"?

Answer

Make sure .exe is in your %PATHEXT%:

C:\>set pathext
PATHEXT=.COM;.EXE;.BAT;.CMD;.VBS;.VBE;.JS;.JSE;.WSF;.WSH;.py;.pl

When you run python, Windows tries all extensions listed in that environment variable.

C:\>set pathext=.exe;%pathext%