Get installed software list using C#

user3523585 picture user3523585 · Jul 23, 2014 · Viewed 18k times · Source

I try to get a list of installed application keys:

RegistryKey RegKeyUninstallList = Registry.LocalMachine;
string strUninstallList = @"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall";
string[] test = RegKeyUninstallList.OpenSubKey(strUninstallList).GetSubKeyNames();

I get only the Keys from:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

But I need also the Keys from:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

My program should be able to run on a 64Bit and on a 32Bit machine.

edit: Ok I have tried Check if application is installed in registry and the solution from tHiNk_OuT_oF_bOx.

But nothing has solved the Problem!

The problem is i get exactly the same list for test and test2:

RegistryKey RegKeyUninstallList = Registry.LocalMachine;
string strUninstallList = @"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall";
string strUninstallList2 = @"SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall";
string[] test = RegKeyUninstallList.OpenSubKey(strUninstallList).GetSubKeyNames();
string[] test2 = RegKeyUninstallList.OpenSubKey(strUninstallList2).GetSubKeyNames();

Answer

Revan picture Revan · Jul 23, 2014

Source from : http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/94c2f14d-c45e-4b55-9ba0-eb091bac1035/c-get-installed-programs

The solution is to search for 3 places in registry:

  1. SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall inside CurrentUser
  2. SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall inside LocalMachine
  3. SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall in LocalMachine

the code below suits you needs.

public static bool IsApplicationInstalled(string p_name)
{
    string displayName;
    RegistryKey key;

    // search in: CurrentUser
    key = Registry.CurrentUser.OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall");
    foreach (String keyName in key.GetSubKeyNames())
    {
        RegistryKey subkey = key.OpenSubKey(keyName);
        displayName = subkey.GetValue("DisplayName") as string;
        if (p_name.Equals(displayName, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) == true)
        {
            return true;
        }
    }

    // search in: LocalMachine_32
    key = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall");
    foreach (String keyName in key.GetSubKeyNames())
    {
        RegistryKey subkey = key.OpenSubKey(keyName);
        displayName = subkey.GetValue("DisplayName") as string;
        if (p_name.Equals(displayName, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) == true)
        {
            return true;
        }
    }

    // search in: LocalMachine_64
    key = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall");
    foreach (String keyName in key.GetSubKeyNames())
    {
        RegistryKey subkey = key.OpenSubKey(keyName);
        displayName = subkey.GetValue("DisplayName") as string;
        if (p_name.Equals(displayName, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) == true)
        {
            return true;
        }
    }

    // NOT FOUND
    return false;
}