Search both ProgramFiles and ProgramFiles(x86) using environment variables in C++ and C# / VB.NET [duplicate]

Question

This question already has answers here:

Closed 8 years ago.

Possible Duplicate:
C# - How to get Program Files (x86) on Windows Vista 64 bit

I am trying to launch a third-party program from my own. I have done a quick search in Program Files and Program Files (x86), and I just realized that the path returned by getenv("ProgramFiles") actually depends on whether I am running in x64 or Win32.

How can I search (both in C++ and C# or VB.NET) both Program Files folders, using environment variables and not hard-coded names - since regardless of the version of my program running on the user machine, the user might have the other one installed in a different version?

My code now: in C++:

fs::path root_directory = fs::path(getenv("ProgramFiles"));
// and then I change to 
root_directory = fs::path(getenv("ProgramFiles(x86)"));

in VB.NET:

System.Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("ProgramFiles")

I looked at this source: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa365743

But if I implement what they say, I get x86 all the time...

Answer 1

Take a look at these Stack Overflow questions:

• C# - How to get Program Files (x86) on Windows Vista 64 bit
• How do I programmatically retrieve the actual path to the “Program Files” folder?.

Answer 2

You can get it using following,

Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles)