Note:

Static Methods for Getting and Setting Values
In the .NET Framework version 2.0, 
the Registry class also contains staticGetValue and SetValue methods for setting and retrieving values from registry keys. 
These methods open and close registry keys each time they are used, 
so they do not perform as well as analogous methods in the RegistryKey class, 
when you access a large number of values.

The RegistryKey class also provides methods that allow you to set Windows access control security for registry keys, 
to test the data type of a value before retrieving it, and to delete keys.


This section contains two code examples. 
The first example demonstrates root keys, and the second example demonstrates the staticGetValue and SetValue methods.

Example 1

The following code example demonstrates how to retrieve the subkeys of the HKEY_USERS key, 
and print their names to the screen. 
Use the OpenSubKey method to create an instance of the particular subkey of interest. 
You can then use other operations in RegistryKey to manipulate that key.


// Example 1


using System;
using Microsoft.Win32;

class Reg {
    public static void Main() {

        // Create a RegistryKey, which will access the HKEY_USERS
        // key in the registry of this machine.
        RegistryKey rk = Registry.Users;

        // Print out the keys.
        PrintKeys(rk);
    }

    static void PrintKeys(RegistryKey rkey) {

        // Retrieve all the subkeys for the specified key.
        String [] names = rkey.GetSubKeyNames();

        int icount = 0;

        Console.WriteLine("Subkeys of " + rkey.Name);
        Console.WriteLine("-----------------------------------------------");

        // Print the contents of the array to the console.
        foreach (String s in names) {
            Console.WriteLine(s);

            // The following code puts a limit on the number
            // of keys displayed.  Comment it out to print the
            // complete list.
            icount++;
            if (icount >= 10)
                break;
        }
    }
}

// example2
The following code example stores values of several data types in an example key, 
creating the key as it does so, 
and then retrieves and displays the values. 
The example demonstrates storing and retrieving the default (nameless) name/value pair, 
and the use of defaultValue when a name/value pair does not exist.


using System;
using Microsoft.Win32;

public class Example
{
    public static void Main()
    {
        // The name of the key must include a valid root.
        const string userRoot = "HKEY_CURRENT_USER";
        const string subkey = "RegistrySetValueExample";
        const string keyName = userRoot + "\\" + subkey;

        // An int value can be stored without specifying the
        // registry data type, but long values will be stored
        // as strings unless you specify the type. Note that
        // the int is stored in the default name/value
        // pair.
        Registry.SetValue(keyName, "", 5280);
        Registry.SetValue(keyName, "TestLong", 12345678901234,
            RegistryValueKind.QWord);

        // Strings with expandable environment variables are
        // stored as ordinary strings unless you specify the
        // data type.
        Registry.SetValue(keyName, "TestExpand", "My path: %path%");
        Registry.SetValue(keyName, "TestExpand2", "My path: %path%",
            RegistryValueKind.ExpandString);

        // Arrays of strings are stored automatically as 
        // MultiString. Similarly, arrays of Byte are stored
        // automatically as Binary.
        string[] strings = {"One", "Two", "Three"};
        Registry.SetValue(keyName, "TestArray", strings);

        // Your default value is returned if the name/value pair
        // does not exist.
        string noSuch = (string) Registry.GetValue(keyName, 
            "NoSuchName",
            "Return this default if NoSuchName does not exist.");
        Console.WriteLine("\r\nNoSuchName: {0}", noSuch);

        // Retrieve the int and long values, specifying 
        // numeric default values in case the name/value pairs
        // do not exist. The int value is retrieved from the
        // default (nameless) name/value pair for the key.
        int tInteger = (int) Registry.GetValue(keyName, "", -1);
        Console.WriteLine("(Default): {0}", tInteger);
        long tLong = (long) Registry.GetValue(keyName, "TestLong",
            long.MinValue);
        Console.WriteLine("TestLong: {0}", tLong);

        // When retrieving a MultiString value, you can specify
        // an array for the default return value. 
        string[] tArray = (string[]) Registry.GetValue(keyName,
            "TestArray",
            new string[] {"Default if TestArray does not exist."});
        for(int i=0; i<tArray.Length; i++)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("TestArray({0}): {1}", i, tArray[i]);
        }

        // A string with embedded environment variables is not
        // expanded if it was stored as an ordinary string.
        string tExpand = (string) Registry.GetValue(keyName,
             "TestExpand", 
             "Default if TestExpand does not exist.");
        Console.WriteLine("TestExpand: {0}", tExpand);

        // A string stored as ExpandString is expanded.
        string tExpand2 = (string) Registry.GetValue(keyName,
            "TestExpand2",
            "Default if TestExpand2 does not exist.");
        Console.WriteLine("TestExpand2: {0}...",
            tExpand2.Substring(0, 40));

        Console.WriteLine("\r\nUse the registry editor to examine the key.");
        Console.WriteLine("Press the Enter key to delete the key.");
        Console.ReadLine();
        Registry.CurrentUser.DeleteSubKey(subkey);
    }
}
//
// This code example produces output similar to the following:
//
//NoSuchName: Return this default if NoSuchName does not exist.
//(Default): 5280
//TestLong: 12345678901234
//TestArray(0): One
//TestArray(1): Two
//TestArray(2): Three
//TestExpand: My path: %path%
//TestExpand2: My path: D:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\...
//
//Use the registry editor to examine the key.
//Press the Enter key to delete the key.