How to read registry value correctly in C#

Question

I have created a key of type string and named it mykey in registry at HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT with the value set to 1234.

I have a windows form application with a button on it.

I want to see the value of mykey in a MessageBox whenever the button is pressed. How can I achieve that?

This is what I did. But this code only shows HKEY_USERS in the MessageBox and not the value of mykey.

private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        RegistryKey rk = Registry.Users;
        rk.GetValue("HKEY_USERS\\.DEFAULT\\mykey");

        if (rk == null)
            MessageBox.Show("null");
        else
            MessageBox.Show(rk.ToString());
    }

@PedroG.Dias How is that link even an answer?! I don't understand. My question is within the context, while the link you gave -- which links to another link, by the way -- is not. It doesn't even have one proper example. — eternal, May 13 '16 at 07:14

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered May 13 '16 at 06:25

You specify the Users part twice. First as the hive of the registry and then as registry key.

You can remove it from the latter:

rk.GetValue(@".DEFAULT\mykey");

Or you should start with the registry without selecting a hive:

Registry.GetValue(@"HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\mykey");

Mostafiz · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-13T06:33:16.307

You have specified User two times but you have to do that anyone of that, here is the safe way to read registry value

private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        using (RegistryKey key = Registry.Users.OpenSubKey(".DEFAULT"))
        {
            if (key != null)
            {
                Object val = key.GetValue("mykey");
                if (val != null)
                {
                    MessageBox.Show(val.ToString());
                }
                else
                {
                   MessageBox.Show("Null");
                }
            }

        }
    }

How to read registry value correctly in C#

2 Answers2