Retrieving file installation path from registry

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I am creating a WPF utility which needs to access the registry of the local machine, to then find out the installation path of the program.

I've navigated to the key via Regedit and it gives a Name, Type and Data, within the Data it shows the installation path, I would like to extract the installation path.

I know I need to navigate to this key within the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\

then I need to access a folder within this key with the information regarding the installation path.

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registry wpf c#
3 Answers

This question was very helpful to me. I came up with a helper class, wanting to play with the new Tuples.

Example usage:

public string SkypeExePath => InstalledApplicationPaths.GetInstalledApplicationPath( "lync.exe" );

The class: 

public static class InstalledApplicationPaths
{

   public static string GetInstalledApplicationPath( string shortName )
   {
      var path = GetInstalledApplicationPaths().SingleOrDefault( x => x?.ExectuableName.ToLower() == shortName.ToLower() )?.Path;
      return path;
   }

   public static IEnumerable<(string ExectuableName, string Path)?> GetInstalledApplicationPaths()
   {
      using ( RegistryKey key = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey( @"Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths" ) )
      {
         foreach ( var subkeyName in key.GetSubKeyNames() )
         {
            using ( RegistryKey subkey = key.OpenSubKey( subkeyName ) )
            {
               yield return (subkeyName, subkey.GetValue( "" )?.ToString());
            }
         }
      }
   }

}
user_6351950
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