$path = "\path1\path2\path3\file.ext"; # change " to ' and
                                       # you'll be fine
$path = '\path1\path2\path3\file.ext';
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If you escape a character with \ in a double-quoted string it'll have a different meaning.
For example, the well known sequence "\r\n" actually translates to CR LF instead of \r\n.

--perlplexer