OpenSubKey() method returns Nothing

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Hi,
I am trying to extract uninstall string from the registry for the programs installed.
I have written the following code to loop thorough the programs.

VB

Dim Software As String = Nothing
       'The registry key will be held in a string SoftwareKey.
       Dim SoftwareKey As String = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products"
       '"\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products"
       Using rk As RegistryKey = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(SoftwareKey)
           For Each skName In rk.GetSubKeyNames
Next
        End Using

But i am getting null/Nothing from the OpenSubKey() method, If i give up to the following path "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer" it is returning value.
I have checked the full path in registry, it exists there. Tried by changing permissions also, which is not working. Can you help?
I am using Windows 7 64 bit OS

Posted 2-Jun-14 22:05pm

Member 10758061

Updated 2-Jun-14 22:21pm

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Fredrik Bornander · Answer 1 · 2014-06-02T23:34:00

Make sure you open the correct hive depending on machine configuration (64 or 32 bit).

This code might work better for you;

VB

Sub Main()
    Using hklm As RegistryKey = RegistryKey.OpenBaseKey(RegistryHive.LocalMachine, IIf(Environment.Is64BitOperatingSystem, RegistryView.Registry64, RegistryView.Registry32))
        Using key As RegistryKey = hklm.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Products")
            Console.WriteLine(key)
        End Using
    End Using
End Sub

Hope this helps,
Fredrik