in reply to Getting File Types data

In general HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT stores information about registered applications such as file associations.

Win32::TieRegistry lets you fiddle with the registry so in theory no problem. However with the Windows registry it’s always tricky.

I think it depends on the Windows version you run and also on the particular user logged in. Software can be installed for all users or specific user(s), different users can install the same software (or different versions of it) in different locations, etc. The registry follows a strategy for looking up and writing information. You better read Windows_Registry first (fairly good description).

Make sure you BACKUP the registry! It is too easy to screw it up! Also it doesn’t harm to have a regedit/regcleaner nearby;-)

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Re^2: Getting File Types data
by merrymonk (Hermit) on Aug 20, 2008 at 09:41 UTC
    I have looked in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT registry.
    This seems to have two sections. One for extensions and one for applicatons.
    I guessed the extension section would give the path. However I could not see it.
    Is this hidden in some way?
    The problem with the application section is that I could not see the name of the application I was looking for.
[reply]

      The extensions are there but if you want the path where the application is installed you have to look elsewhere.

      An example

      On my system: HK_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Acrobat Reader\7.0\InstallPath

      Value: "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 7.0\Reader"

      If this lookup fails look at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\software\companyname\product. I think this is in general the lookup strategy, i.e. first check HKCU if that fails check HKLM. Like I said it depends on the user logged on. I also recall (on the top of my head) that the registry differs (slightly) between different Windows flavours.

      See also Windows registry information for advanced users.

      HTH

[reply]

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