How to read value of a registry key c#

Question

At start up of my application I am trying to see if the user has a specific version of a software installed, specifically the MySQL connector, all using c#. In the registry, the MySQL contains a version entry. So what I am trying to accomplish is this.

My app starts up. Somewhere in the start up code I need to do the following things in order. Check to see if the user has the MySQL connector installed, which is located at...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\MySQL AB\MySQL Connector/Net

If the user has the connector installed, I wanted to check what version they have, which is stored as Name = "Version" and Data = x.x.x (Picture below)

Now if the user has a specific version installed, then I will execute other code, which is where I can take from.

What would be the best way of going about this?

enter image description here

EDIT: Below is the code I currently have and I am getting an error on line 19 (It is commented). My error says "error CS1001: Identifier Expected" I wasnt able to figure out what that means. Any help?

using System; using Microsoft.Win32; using System.Data; public class regTest { public static void Main() { try { RegistryKey key = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("Software\\Wow6432Node\\MySQL AB\\MySQL Connector\\Net"); if (key != null) { Object o = key.GetValue("Version"); if (o != null) { Version version = new Version(o as String); //"as" because it's REG_SZ...otherwise ToString() might be safe(r) Version broken = new Version("6.7.4"); if (version.Equals.(broken)) //This is where the error is occuring { DataSet dataSet = ConfigurationManager.GetSection("system.data") as ystem.Data.DataSet; DataView vi = dataSet.Tables[0].DefaultView; vi.Sort = "Name"; if (vi.Find("MySql") == -1) { dataSet.Tables[0].Rows.Add("MySql" , "MySql.Data.MySqlClient" , "MySql.Data.MySqlClient" , typeof(MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlClientFactory).AssemblyQualifiedName); } } } } } catch (Exception ex) //just for demonstration...it's always best to handle specific exceptions { //react appropriately } } }

msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/…

Marcus
– Marcus

2013-08-14 13:26:13 +00:00
Commented Aug 14, 2013 at 13:26 — Marcus
– Marcus, Commented Aug 14, 2013 at 13:26

DonBoitnott · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-05 17:22:58Z

You need to first add using Microsoft.Win32; to your code page.

Then you can begin to use the Registry classes:

try { using (RegistryKey key = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("Software\\Wow6432Node\\MySQL AB\\MySQL Connector\\Net")) { if (key != null) { Object o = key.GetValue("Version"); if (o != null) { Version version = new Version(o as String); //"as" because it's REG_SZ...otherwise ToString() might be safe(r) //do what you like with version } } } } catch (Exception ex) //just for demonstration...it's always best to handle specific exceptions { //react appropriately }

BEWARE: unless you have administrator access, you are unlikely to be able to do much in LOCAL_MACHINE. Sometimes even reading values can be a suspect operation without admin rights.

I have updated my code to reflect what you provided me, but I ran into a problem as shown above, any help?
One should use 'RegistryKey' within using blocks. They implement IDisposable.
When I try this I get RegistryKey could not be found (I'm using Microsoft.Win32 but still no type found...)

Marcello Miorelli · Accepted Answer · 2023-09-01 11:20:12Z

@DonBoitnott have a good code, but require admin rights. I use this (only need Read Rights)

 try { var subKey = "Software\\Wow6432Node\\MySQL AB\\MySQL Connector\\Net"; using (var key = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(subKey, false)) // False is important! { var s = key?.GetValue("Version") as string; if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(s)) { var version = new Version(s); } } } catch (Exception ex) //just for demonstration...it's always best to handle specific exceptions { //react appropriately }

Jeff Woodard · Accepted Answer · 2019-02-07 18:10:43Z

-20

Change:

using (RegistryKey key = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("Software\\Wow6432Node\\MySQL AB\\MySQL Connector\\Net"))

To:

 using (RegistryKey key = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("Software\Wow6432Node\MySQL AB\MySQL Connector\Net"))

edited Feb 7, 2019 at 18:10

Jeff Woodard

6478 silver badges15 bronze badges

answered Feb 7, 2019 at 16:42

Manuel

9

4 Comments

zalimgandhera Over a year ago

why would you paste the same thing with no improvement?

DanielV Over a year ago

better to remove this one, because doesn't contribute with OP question

General Grievance Over a year ago

@zalimgandhera Well, the "same thing" would have been to put an @ in front of the string. So it's not the same thing. It's more broken.

Hammad S. Over a year ago

Remove this section, This answer is of no help.

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