I am coding a App that adds Values (Strings) to the Registry in Visual Basic

Question

I am programming a App that adds Strings to the Registry to add custom URLs and Programs/ShortCuts to the context menu. I'm stuck at this point because it doesn't let me write a string to the registry and says some weird error.

Here is a photo (sorry for some things in German :D ):

Error

And here is the text what is missing / cut on the photo:

Error2

I tried it with this code:

My.Computer.Registry.ClassesRoot.CreateSubKey("DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings")
            My.Computer.Registry.ClassesRoot.CreateSubKey("DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\command")
            My.Computer.Registry.ClassesRoot.SetValue("Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings", "(Default)", "@shell32.dll,-4161")
            My.Computer.Registry.ClassesRoot.SetValue("Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings", "icon", "Control.exe")
            My.Computer.Registry.ClassesRoot.SetValue("Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings", "Position", "Middle")
            My.Computer.Registry.ClassesRoot.SetValue("Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings\command", "(Default)", "Control.exe")

I think it comes because it tries to write it as a integer and i try to wrtie a string, but i dont know how to use a String as a type.

Here is the full code: Form1: http://txt.do/drqp1 Form2: txt.do/drqpt

[SOLVED] Availible on GitHub: https://github.com/amir00t/LvL-up

You should include the exception and its stack trace in the post, not just a screenshot of it. — Mathieu Guindon, Apr 20 '17 at 16:14
Sorry i dont know what you mean because im new with programming — Max, Apr 20 '17 at 16:23
You are getting an UnauthorizedAccessException. Writing to HKCR probably requires admin rights (i.e. you need to "Run as administrator" - or whatever that is in German). To debug, you may need to run Visual Studio as administrator. — Mark, Apr 20 '17 at 17:16
Possible duplicate of [Unhandled Exception when trying to add registry key](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/43404463/unhandled-exception-when-trying-to-add-registry-key) — Visual Vincent, Apr 20 '17 at 19:08
i tried to build it and run it outside as a Admin and it spit out another error that basically said that it couldn't convert "@shell32.dll" to an integer — Max, Apr 21 '17 at 08:37
and no i have a different problem because it tries to write it as an integer and doesnt work on my pc aswell @Visual Vincent — Max, Apr 21 '17 at 08:40

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:17

1

For an UnauthorizedAccessException see this.

For your second problem: You're using the SetValue() overload incorrectly, you ought to check IntelliSense when writing the code.

The first parameter is the name of the value.
The second parameter is the value to store in the registry.
The third parameter is an enumeration value (of type Integer) indicating what kind of data you're entering in the registry.

The correct use is:

My.Computer.Registry.ClassesRoot.OpenSubKey("<relative\sub\keys>", True).SetValue("<value name>", "<value>")

'For instance:
My.Computer.Registry.ClassesRoot.OpenSubKey("DesktopBackground\Shell\Settings", True).SetValue("(Default)", "@shell32.dll,-4161")

edited May 23 '17 at 12:17

Community

1
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answered Apr 21 '17 at 09:46

Visual Vincent

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@Max if it helped, consider accepting. Please see [How does accepting an answer work?](https://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/5234/how-does-accepting-an-answer-work) – Bugs Apr 21 '17 at 10:06
im changing the code then im doing it :DD (I know its the checkmark ;D ) – Max Apr 21 '17 at 10:10
still spits errors out idk why (its a different error putting the new code and pics in the question) – Max Apr 21 '17 at 10:21
heres the new code and the new error message Form1 v2: http://txt.do/drqe6 Form2 v2:http://txt.do/drqej Error (the new one): http://txt.do/drqe4 the custom url doenst spit errors out but it doesnt do the task because the Variables dont get added – Max Apr 21 '17 at 10:27
@Max : That's a difference question, the answer can be found in: [**What is a NullReferenceException, and how do I fix it?**](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4660142/what-is-a-nullreferenceexception-and-how-do-i-fix-it) Presumably the `BoM` variable is null, but without knowing the exact line I cannot tell for sure. – Visual Vincent Apr 21 '17 at 11:08
it is in Form1 in line 7 to 14 because it needs to check the Position the user wants i gave it string in the part too – Max Apr 21 '17 at 11:17
@Max : I can't see line numbers on my phone. Either way you have to make sure `BoM` isn't null. The answers in the post I linked to contain good information on how to find the cause of an NRE. -- You can inspect variables when the exception is thrown via the `Autos` window (can be opened via menu `Debug > Windows > Autos`). – Visual Vincent Apr 21 '17 at 11:32
oh sorry but i dont have this tool in vs – Max Apr 21 '17 at 12:02
You should? Are you using VS Express? Otherwise there's also the `Locals` window (`Debug > Windows > Locals`). It should exist in any VS version. More info here: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa290840(v=vs.71).aspx – Visual Vincent Apr 21 '17 at 12:20
i have none of these both EDIT: oh i need to be in debug mode sorry – Max Apr 21 '17 at 12:37
@Max : That's why you do it _**"when the exception is thrown"**_. ;) – Visual Vincent Apr 21 '17 at 12:44
i got it i defined a start parameter for the Position Variable if it is detected you'll get a messagebox thank you im trying the custom one now – Max Apr 21 '17 at 12:45
the custom one doesnt work i tried to do it like this *My.Computer.Registry.ClassesRoot.OpenSubKey("DesktopBackground\Shell\" + givenName, True).SetValue("(Default)", "@shell32.dll")* It doesnt recognize the variable and creates everthing without it – Max Apr 21 '17 at 12:46
What is this `givenName`? Also, you can do `ElseIf CheckBox2.Checked Then` instead of making an entire new `If`-statement. – Visual Vincent Apr 21 '17 at 12:51
it should be able to add a custom chosen url in a batch script (which i have done) which the context menu refers to but the varialbe that lets you choose the name of the registry key and the batch script doesnt get added where i tried to add it (in the code lines which need the variable) I tried it like this : *My.Computer.Registry.ClassesRoot.OpenSubKey("DesktopBackground\Shell\" + givenName, True).SetValue("(Default)", "@shell32.dll")* – Max Apr 21 '17 at 12:53
@Max : You're just asking more and more here... Not that I don't want to help you, but it's very hard to do so without a proper perspective. If my answer solved your initial problem please accept it. If you need more help then you should rather ask a new question where you can provide code, screenshots, examples, etc. properly (do provide examples of what values your variables have got). – Visual Vincent Apr 21 '17 at 12:58
@Max : You can place a breakpoint in the code to stop execution at a specific line in order to inspect variables. Step-through debugging using breakpoints is a very efficient way of finding out the problem yourself. Here's some info: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/5557y8b4.aspx – Visual Vincent Apr 21 '17 at 13:07
i posted the second question here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/43543526/variables-cant-get-embedded – Max Apr 21 '17 at 13:07

I am coding a App that adds Values (Strings) to the Registry in Visual Basic

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