How to get ProgramFiles paths?

Question

I have weird problem.

I`m using windows 7 enterprise sp1 64 bit.

I need to take Program files and Program files X86 directories path for my project. This is what I've done:

Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles); Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFilesX86); 

but both of these lines returns Program files X86 folder.

How can I resolve it?

Answer 1

This will work for x86, x64 or Any CPU configurations:

string programFiles = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables("%ProgramW6432%"); string programFilesX86 = Environment.ExpandEnvironmentVariables("%ProgramFiles(x86)%"); 

Because using the environment variable ProgramW6432 will always return Program Files folder whereas ProgramFiles will vary depending on your application compilation options.