I found out that I needed to read the 64 bit registry from a 32 bit app today.
Why you might ask?
Well, I need to get the RegisteredOrganization value from HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion and unfortunately Microsoft has a bug where the WOW6432 version of this key always says Microsoft, so a 32 bit application would always return Microsoft as the RegisteredOrganization, regardless of what the user entered when they installed the OS. This is hardly desired.
Note: This is also why all Visual Studio projects created in Windows 7 64 bit have Microsoft in the project’s Assembly Information. Change the WOW6432 version of the RegisteredOrganization and you fix this Visual Studio issue.
Well, turns out C# doesn’t have functionality until .NET 4, so prior to .NET 4, to choose the 64 bit hive when running a 32 bit app, so we have to do use a DLLImport and use RegOpenKeyEx, RegCloseKey, and RegQueryValueEx.
I don’t have this well commented, and it is not very newbie proof, but here are three different ways to do this. Hopefully you can understand one or more of these.
Example 1 – .NET 4 Example
Here is how to do this in .NET 4.
using Microsoft.Win32;
namespace Read64bitRegistryFrom32bitApp
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
string value64 = string.Empty;
string value32 = string.Empty;
RegistryKey localKey = RegistryKey.OpenBaseKey(Microsoft.Win32.RegistryHive.LocalMachine, RegistryView.Registry64);
localKey = localKey.OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion");
if (localKey != null)
{
value64 = localKey.GetValue("RegisteredOrganization").ToString();
}
RegistryKey localKey32 = RegistryKey.OpenBaseKey(Microsoft.Win32.RegistryHive.LocalMachine, RegistryView.Registry32);
localKey32 = localKey32.OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion");
if (localKey32 != null)
{
value32 = localKey32.GetValue("RegisteredOrganization").ToString();
}
}
}
}
.NET 3.5 SP1 and Prior
This can also be done in .NET 3.5 and prior but it is not easy.
We have to do use a DLLImport and use RegOpenKeyEx, RegCloseKey, and RegQueryValueEx. Here are some examples.
Example 1 – A console application to read the 64 bit registry from a 32 bit application or vice versa
Here is the code in a simple one file project:
using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Text;
namespace Read64bitRegistryFrom32bitApp
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
string value64 = GetRegKey64(RegHive.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, @"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion", "RegisteredOrganization");
Console.WriteLine(value64);
string value32 = GetRegKey32(RegHive.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, @"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion", "RegisteredOrganization");
Console.WriteLine(value32);
}
public enum RegSAM
{
QueryValue = 0x0001,
SetValue = 0x0002,
CreateSubKey = 0x0004,
EnumerateSubKeys = 0x0008,
Notify = 0x0010,
CreateLink = 0x0020,
WOW64_32Key = 0x0200,
WOW64_64Key = 0x0100,
WOW64_Res = 0x0300,
Read = 0x00020019,
Write = 0x00020006,
Execute = 0x00020019,
AllAccess = 0x000f003f
}
public static UIntPtr HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE = new UIntPtr(0x80000002u);
public static UIntPtr HKEY_CURRENT_USER = new UIntPtr(0x80000001u);
#region Member Variables
#region Read 64bit Reg from 32bit app
[DllImport("Advapi32.dll")]
static extern uint RegOpenKeyEx(
UIntPtr hKey,
string lpSubKey,
uint ulOptions,
int samDesired,
out int phkResult);
[DllImport("Advapi32.dll")]
static extern uint RegCloseKey(int hKey);
[DllImport("advapi32.dll", EntryPoint = "RegQueryValueEx")]
public static extern int RegQueryValueEx(
int hKey, string lpValueName,
int lpReserved,
ref uint lpType,
System.Text.StringBuilder lpData,
ref uint lpcbData);
#endregion
#endregion
#region Functions
static public string GetRegKey64(UIntPtr inHive, String inKeyName, String inPropertyName)
{
return GetRegKey64(inHive, inKeyName, RegSAM.WOW64_64Key, inPropertyName);
}
static public string GetRegKey32(UIntPtr inHive, String inKeyName, String inPropertyName)
{
return GetRegKey64(inHive, inKeyName, RegSAM.WOW64_32Key, inPropertyName);
}
static public string GetRegKey64(UIntPtr inHive, String inKeyName, RegSAM in32or64key, String inPropertyName)
{
//UIntPtr HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE = (UIntPtr)0x80000002;
int hkey = 0;
try
{
uint lResult = RegOpenKeyEx(RegHive.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, inKeyName, 0, (int)RegSAM.QueryValue | (int)in32or64key, out hkey);
if (0 != lResult) return null;
uint lpType = 0;
uint lpcbData = 1024;
StringBuilder AgeBuffer = new StringBuilder(1024);
RegQueryValueEx(hkey, inPropertyName, 0, ref lpType, AgeBuffer, ref lpcbData);
string Age = AgeBuffer.ToString();
return Age;
}
finally
{
if (0 != hkey) RegCloseKey(hkey);
}
}
#endregion
}
}
Example 2 – A static class to read the 64 bit registry from a 32 bit application or vice versa
Or if you want this in its own separate class, here is a static class you can add to your project.
using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Text;
namespace Read64bitRegistryFrom32bitApp
{
public enum RegSAM
{
QueryValue = 0x0001,
SetValue = 0x0002,
CreateSubKey = 0x0004,
EnumerateSubKeys = 0x0008,
Notify = 0x0010,
CreateLink = 0x0020,
WOW64_32Key = 0x0200,
WOW64_64Key = 0x0100,
WOW64_Res = 0x0300,
Read = 0x00020019,
Write = 0x00020006,
Execute = 0x00020019,
AllAccess = 0x000f003f
}
public static class RegHive
{
public static UIntPtr HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE = new UIntPtr(0x80000002u);
public static UIntPtr HKEY_CURRENT_USER = new UIntPtr(0x80000001u);
}
public static class RegistryWOW6432
{
#region Member Variables
#region Read 64bit Reg from 32bit app
[DllImport("Advapi32.dll")]
static extern uint RegOpenKeyEx(
UIntPtr hKey,
string lpSubKey,
uint ulOptions,
int samDesired,
out int phkResult);
[DllImport("Advapi32.dll")]
static extern uint RegCloseKey(int hKey);
[DllImport("advapi32.dll", EntryPoint = "RegQueryValueEx")]
public static extern int RegQueryValueEx(
int hKey, string lpValueName,
int lpReserved,
ref uint lpType,
System.Text.StringBuilder lpData,
ref uint lpcbData);
#endregion
#endregion
#region Functions
static public string GetRegKey64(UIntPtr inHive, String inKeyName, String inPropertyName)
{
return GetRegKey64(inHive, inKeyName, RegSAM.WOW64_64Key, inPropertyName);
}
static public string GetRegKey32(UIntPtr inHive, String inKeyName, String inPropertyName)
{
return GetRegKey64(inHive, inKeyName, RegSAM.WOW64_32Key, inPropertyName);
}
static public string GetRegKey64(UIntPtr inHive, String inKeyName, RegSAM in32or64key, String inPropertyName)
{
//UIntPtr HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE = (UIntPtr)0x80000002;
int hkey = 0;
try
{
uint lResult = RegOpenKeyEx(RegHive.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, inKeyName, 0, (int)RegSAM.QueryValue | (int)in32or64key, out hkey);
if (0 != lResult) return null;
uint lpType = 0;
uint lpcbData = 1024;
StringBuilder AgeBuffer = new StringBuilder(1024);
RegQueryValueEx(hkey, inPropertyName, 0, ref lpType, AgeBuffer, ref lpcbData);
string Age = AgeBuffer.ToString();
return Age;
}
finally
{
if (0 != hkey) RegCloseKey(hkey);
}
}
#endregion
#region Enums
#endregion
}
}
Here is an example of using this class.
using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Text;
namespace Read64bitRegistryFrom32bitApp
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
string value64 = RegistryWOW6432.GetRegKey64(RegHive.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, @"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion", "RegisteredOrganization");
string value32 = RegistryWOW6432.GetRegKey32(RegHive.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, @"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion", "RegisteredOrganization");
}
}
}
Example 3 – Adding extension methods to the managed RegistryKey object that read the 64 bit registry from a 32 bit application or vice versa
You know what else is a cool idea? Making it an extension class to the normal managed registry C# code. So you can create a regular managed RegistryKey and then just call an extension function off it.
using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Text;
using Microsoft.Win32;
namespace Read64bitRegistryFrom32bitApp
{
/// <summary>
/// An extension class to allow a registry key to allow it to get the
/// registry in the 32 bit (Wow6432Node) or 64 bit regular registry key
/// </summary>
public static class RegistryWOW6432
{
#region Member Variables
#region Read 64bit Reg from 32bit app
public static UIntPtr HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE = new UIntPtr(0x80000002u);
public static UIntPtr HKEY_CURRENT_USER = new UIntPtr(0x80000001u);
[DllImport("Advapi32.dll")]
static extern uint RegOpenKeyEx(
UIntPtr hKey,
string lpSubKey,
uint ulOptions,
int samDesired,
out int phkResult);
[DllImport("Advapi32.dll")]
static extern uint RegCloseKey(int hKey);
[DllImport("advapi32.dll", EntryPoint = "RegQueryValueEx")]
public static extern int RegQueryValueEx(
int hKey, string lpValueName,
int lpReserved,
ref uint lpType,
System.Text.StringBuilder lpData,
ref uint lpcbData);
#endregion
#endregion
#region Functions
public static string GetRegKey64(this RegistryKey inKey, String inPropertyName)
{
string strKey = inKey.ToString();
string regHive = strKey.Split('\\')[0];
string regPath = strKey.Substring(strKey.IndexOf('\\') +1);
return GetRegKey64(GetRegHiveFromString(regHive), regPath, RegSAM.WOW64_64Key, inPropertyName);
}
public static string GetRegKey32(this RegistryKey inKey, String inPropertyName)
{
string strKey = inKey.ToString();
string regHive = strKey.Split('\\')[0];
string regPath = strKey.Substring(strKey.IndexOf('\\') + 1);
return GetRegKey64(GetRegHiveFromString(regHive), regPath, RegSAM.WOW64_32Key, inPropertyName);
}
private static UIntPtr GetRegHiveFromString(string inString)
{
if (inString == "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE")
return HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE;
if (inString == "HKEY_CURRENT_USER")
return HKEY_CURRENT_USER;
return UIntPtr.Zero;
}
static public string GetRegKey64(UIntPtr inHive, String inKeyName, RegSAM in32or64key, String inPropertyName)
{
//UIntPtr HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE = (UIntPtr)0x80000002;
int hkey = 0;
try
{
uint lResult = RegOpenKeyEx(inHive, inKeyName, 0, (int)RegSAM.QueryValue | (int)in32or64key, out hkey);
if (0 != lResult) return null;
uint lpType = 0;
uint lpcbData = 1024;
StringBuilder AgeBuffer = new StringBuilder(1024);
RegQueryValueEx(hkey, inPropertyName, 0, ref lpType, AgeBuffer, ref lpcbData);
string Age = AgeBuffer.ToString();
return Age;
}
finally
{
if (0 != hkey) RegCloseKey(hkey);
}
}
#endregion
#region Enums
public enum RegSAM
{
QueryValue = 0x0001,
SetValue = 0x0002,
CreateSubKey = 0x0004,
EnumerateSubKeys = 0x0008,
Notify = 0x0010,
CreateLink = 0x0020,
WOW64_32Key = 0x0200,
WOW64_64Key = 0x0100,
WOW64_Res = 0x0300,
Read = 0x00020019,
Write = 0x00020006,
Execute = 0x00020019,
AllAccess = 0x000f003f
}
#endregion
}
}
Here is an example of using these extension functions.
using System;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using System.Text;
using Microsoft.Win32;
namespace Read64bitRegistryFrom32bitApp
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
string value64 = string.Empty;
string value32 = string.Empty;
RegistryKey localKey = Registry.LocalMachine;
localKey = localKey.OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion");
if (localKey != null)
{
value32 = localKey.GetRegKey32("RegisteredOrganization");
value64 = localKey.GetRegKey64("RegisteredOrganization");
}
}
}
}
If anything is confusing please comment.
Resources:
- RegOpenKeyEx Function – http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms724897%28v=VS.85%29.aspx
- RegQueryValueEx Function – http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms724911%28VS.85%29.aspx
- http://www.pinvoke.net/default.aspx/advapi32/RegQueryValueEx.html
- http://www.pinvoke.net/default.aspx/advapi32/RegOpenKeyEx.html
- http://www.pinvoke.net/default.aspx/advapi32/RegCreateKeyEx.html
- http://www.pinvoke.net/default.aspx/advapi32/RegCloseKey.html
- http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1470770/accessing-registry-using-net
- http://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/details/400597/registeredorganization-reg-key-on-x64-vista-7
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