Create 64 bit registry key (non-WOW64) from a 32 bit application

Question

I have a Visual Studio installer that is creating some registry keys:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\MyApp

but the registry keys it is creat

Answer 1

Since there is very little documentation about OpenBaseKey, I'll expand on shifuimam's answer and provide a solution for the OP:

Private Sub Foo()
    Dim myAppIs64Bit = Environment.Is64BitProcess
    Dim baseKey As RegistryKey
    If (myAppIs64Bit) Then
        baseKey = RegistryKey.OpenBaseKey(RegistryHive.LocalMachine, RegistryView.Registry64)
    Else
        baseKey = RegistryKey.OpenBaseKey(RegistryHive.LocalMachine, RegistryView.Registry32)
    End If
    Dim myAppKey As RegistryKey = baseKey.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\MyApp")
End Sub

If the app is 32-bit, myAppKey points to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\MyApp. If 64-bit, it points to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MyApp.

The advantage of OpenBaseKey is that it eliminates the need to reference Wow6432 in your code.