asked on

Get Client Registry Info

Hello, I need to get a list of the applications that are installed on the clients machine. My code works in a console app but not in a browser.

Does anyone know a way to get this code to work with asp.net? Or is there a better way to get apps installed on a client and also other info such as machine name, proc, memory etc..

I'm attempting to convert a console app that I found to do this but it not getting anything. This is my code:
Imports Microsoft.Win32
Partial Class _Default
Inherits System.Web.UI.Page

Protected Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
GetInstalled()
End Sub
Private Sub GetInstalled()
Dim uninstallKey As String = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall"
Using rk As RegistryKey = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(uninstallKey)
For Each skName As String In rk.GetSubKeyNames()
Using sk As RegistryKey = rk.OpenSubKey(skName)
Label1.Text = (sk.GetValue("DisplayName"))
End Using
Next
End Using
End Sub
End Class

This console app works:
 
Imports Microsoft.Win32
Module Module1
 
    Sub Main()
        GetInstalled()
    End Sub
    Private Sub GetInstalled()
        Dim uninstallKey As String = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall"
        Using rk As RegistryKey = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(uninstallKey)
            For Each skName As String In rk.GetSubKeyNames()
                Using sk As RegistryKey = rk.OpenSubKey(skName)
                    Console.WriteLine(sk.GetValue("DisplayName"))
                End Using
            Next
        End Using
        Console.ReadLine()
    End Sub
End Module

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Éric Moreau

the problem is that your web application won't have access to the registry on the client PC

gogetsome

ASKER

mmm, I found another example which does work. I uploaded it to the server and called the page from a client and it worked. Could it be that it works as I am a domain administrator?

markup:
 
<%@ Page Language="VB" AutoEventWireup="false" CodeFile="Default3.aspx.vb" Inherits="Default3" %>
 
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
 
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head runat="server">
    <title>Untitled Page</title>
</head>
<body>
    <form id="form1" runat="server">
    <div>
        <asp:Button ID="Button1" runat="server" Text="Button" />
        <br />
        <br />
        <asp:Label ID="Label1" runat="server"
            Text="Label"></asp:Label>
    </div>
    </form>
</body>
</html>
 
Code behind:
 
 
Imports Microsoft.Win32
Partial Class Default3
    Inherits System.Web.UI.Page
    Protected Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        GetInstalled()
    End Sub
    Private Sub GetInstalled()
        Dim uninstallkey As String = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall"
        Dim rk As RegistryKey = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey(uninstallkey)
        Dim sk As RegistryKey
        Dim skname() = rk.GetSubKeyNames
        For counter As Integer = 0 To skname.Length - 1
            sk = rk.OpenSubKey(skname(counter))
            If sk.GetValue("DisplayName") <> "" Then
                Label1.Text &= sk.GetValue("DisplayName") & "<br>"
            End If
        Next
 
    End Sub
End Class

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ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

oobayly

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Éric Moreau

I agree with oobayly.

The code behind runs on the server and return the content of the server registry.

gogetsome

ASKER

Yes, you are correct.

If I install a windows app on the client and run the code I would get the client info? I suppose that would be the only way?