can't write to registry in currentuser

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The following code causes an error but should work. Why doesn't it work? The same code (originally in REALbasic) does work so the currentuser (also an admin on the pc) does have access to write to the registry.

Public Sub SavePreference(ByVal pref As String, ByVal value As String)
Dim tmp As RegistryKey = Registry.CurrentUser
Dim tmp2 As RegistryKey
tmp2 = tmp.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\example")
If tmp2 Is Nothing Then
   tmp.CreateSubKey("SOFTWARE\example")
   tmp2 = tmp.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\example")
End If
If tmp2 IsNot Nothing Then tmp2.SetValue(pref, LCase(value))
End Sub

A first chance exception of type 'System.UnauthorizedAccessException' occurred in mscorlib.dll

err> Cannot write to the registry key.
stack>
at System.ThrowHelper.ThrowUnauthorizedAccessException(ExceptionResource resource)
at Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKey.EnsureWriteable()
at Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKey.SetValue(String name, Object value, RegistryValueKind valueKind)
at Microsoft.Win32.RegistryKey.SetValue(String name, Object value)
at ConnectionTools.mMiscFunction.SavePreference(String pref, String value) in mMiscFunction.vb:line 92

Posted 11-Jan-10 6:43am

Dave_Lowe

Updated 11-Jan-10 8:04am

v3

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7 solutions

Solution 1

Well, looks like the currently logged in user doesn't have rights to modify the registry. What's the question?

Posted 11-Jan-10 6:48am

#realJSOP

Solution 2

Why doesn't it work? The same code (modified for REALbasic) does work so the currentuser (also an admin on the pc) does have access to write to the registry.

Posted 11-Jan-10 7:12am

Dave_Lowe

Solution 4

The point is, it works in another language so i do have access to write to the registry so VB.NET should not be giving an access error.

Posted 11-Jan-10 8:31am

Dave_Lowe

Solution 5

That exception can be thrown if the registry key is read-only as well. REALbasic might automatically handle that for you.

Posted 11-Jan-10 8:42am

Rick Shaub

Solution 6

It's not read only because i can change the key. I am testing it with tracking the position of a form on the screen. It writes the top and left coords to the registry. If i run the REALbasic app it updates, the VB.net app just throws the error.

Posted 11-Jan-10 8:47am

Dave_Lowe

Solution 3

I dunno. I've never heard of "REALbasic".

Posted 11-Jan-10 8:30am

#realJSOP

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Rick Shaub · Accepted Answer · 2010-01-11T08:59:00

You're using the wrong overload of Registry.OpenSubkey[^]. Registry.OpenSubkey(String) opens as read-only. Use RegistryKey.OpenSubKey(String, Boolean) instead. ie:

Public Sub SavePreference(ByVal pref As String, ByVal value As String)     
    Dim tmp As RegistryKey = Registry.CurrentUser
    Dim tmp2 As RegistryKey
    tmp2 = tmp.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\example", True)
    If tmp2 Is Nothing Then   
        tmp.CreateSubKey("SOFTWARE\example")   
        tmp2 = tmp.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\example", True)
    End If
    If tmp2 IsNot Nothing Then tmp2.SetValue(pref, LCase(value))
End Sub