C++ – Why is RegOpenKeyEx() returning error code 2 on Vista 64bit

cregistrywinapiwindows-vistawow64

I was making the following call:

result = RegOpenKeyEx(key, s, 0, KEY_READ, &key);

(C++, Visual Studio 5, Vista 64bit).

It is failing with error code 2 ("File not found") even though "regedit" shows that the key exists. This code has always worked on 32bit XP. Why is it "file not found" when it clearly is there?

Best Answer

I discovered that I could solve my problem using the flag: KEY_WOW64_64KEY , as in:

result = RegOpenKeyEx(key, s, 0, KEY_READ|KEY_WOW64_64KEY, &key);

For a full explanation: 32-bit and 64-bit Application Data in the Registry

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I have to confess on this..especially since someone voted for the question.

Everything I said in my original posting about using the disks successfully in the past -was true. However, after innumerable shots at trying to get this install to work, I finally went back and looked at the DVD, and found that either myself, or one of my kids, left traces of food stuck to the underside of the DVD. After cleaning the DVD off, the install worked fine. This is embarrassing.

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C# – OpenSubKey under HKLM\Software returning null

The problem is that I'm running 64bit and my app is compiled as 32bit.

The key being read by:

Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKey key = 
    Microsoft.Win32.Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(@"SOFTWARE");

Is not HKLM\SOFTWARE but instead HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\. Compiling the application as x64 solves the problem.

Best Answer

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C# – OpenSubKey under HKLM\Software returning null

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