CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#
Ofir
Ofir

Reputation: 5279

How to get ProgramFiles paths?

I have weird problem.

I`m using windows 7 enterprise sp1 64 bit.

I need to take Program files and Program files X86 directories path for my project. This is what I've done:

Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles);
Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFilesX86);

but both of these lines returns Program files X86 folder.

How can I resolve it?

Upvotes: 42

Views: 52844

Answers (7)

Michal Klouda
Michal Klouda

Reputation: 14521

The result depends on what platform is your project targeting. If you target x86, then both Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles and Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFilesX86 will return the same path.

For example to get the actual path as a string use

string programFiles = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFilesX86);

Upvotes: 34

Clint
Clint

Reputation: 6499

The approach that you have taken is absolutely correct. We just need to tell the compiler to not prefer a particular build platform

Its as simple as

Go to Visual Studio > Project Properties > Build > Uncheck "Prefer 32 bit"

Upvotes: 0

amr ras
amr ras

Reputation: 302

David's answer will work only for Windows 7 and above as per Dan Nolan's comment.

Here is a solution that will work for x86, x64 or Any CPU configurations AND will work for older versions of Windows.

string ProgramFiles = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables("%ProgramFiles%");

if (ProgramFiles[ProgramFiles.Length-1].Equals(')'))  // If ProgramFiles(x86)
    ProgramFiles = ProgramFiles.Substring(0, ProgramFiles.Length - 6);

Essentially, just remove the (x86) if it is there, when it shouldn't be.

OR:

Looking at this registry value seems like a reliable solution too: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ProgramFilesDir

Upvotes: 0

David
David

Reputation: 961

This will work for x86, x64 or Any CPU configurations:

string programFiles = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables("%ProgramW6432%");
string programFilesX86 = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables("%ProgramFiles(x86)%");

Because using the environment variable ProgramW6432 will always return Program Files folder whereas ProgramFiles will vary depending on your application compilation options.

Upvotes: 86

Roland Mai
Roland Mai

Reputation: 31077

Use the Configuration Manager (Build -> Configuration Manager) in Visual Studio to change the targeted platform.

In the platform column see if x64 is available. If it is not, click on the drop down and select "New". You will then be able to add the x64 as a target platform. Debug again, and you will see that Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles) will return C:\Program Files.

Upvotes: 4

Nguyen Kien
Nguyen Kien

Reputation: 1927

If your program is 32 bit, this alway return x86 folder

Upvotes: 1

Sheridan Bulger
Sheridan Bulger

Reputation: 1214

Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles should return the x86 folder for a 32-bit application and Program Files for a 64-bit application on 64-bit Windows. Check your project configuration settings.

Upvotes: 3

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