C# Application Scanning

Question

I want to scan and get all the Application files in my computer.
I know how to get them, but I want only the applications which are Executable (except for Installers).

Basically, what I want is the same function steam uses. Example: enter image description here

you mean installed Applications ??? or any "Executable files" are stored in your hardDrive ?? — Ravi Gadag, Jan 21 '12 at 16:14
All exe are Executable, but I meant something else. There're exe which close as soon as you run them and stuff like that. — Ron, Jan 23 '12 at 16:09

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 21 '12 at 16:16

You can use this code to find all exes recursively in a directory

    DirectoryInfo dirInfo = new DirectoryInfo(@"C:\Program Files");
    var exeFiles = dirInfo.EnumerateFiles("*.exe", SearchOption.AllDirectories);

    foreach ( var exeFile in exeFiles )
    {
        Console.WriteLine( exeFile );
    }

Depending on you definition of executable you might have to also do *.com , *.bat etc etc. There is no way to distinguish between an installer exe vs regular exe file though. You might have to apply some heuristics

As I said, I know how to scan the apps. I dont know how to decide if it's installer or not.. anyway I dont think that's the way Steam uses. — Ron, Jan 23 '12 at 15:51

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 10:32

2

If you want to get the list of installed applications on your system, you can query the registry. Refer to Get installed applications in a system for an example.

edited May 23 '17 at 10:32

Community

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answered Jan 21 '12 at 16:22

Douglas

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I know how to get the installed applications. I am pretty sure Steam uses this solution combined with some filters and more function, but I cant find out how they do it exactly... – Ron Jan 23 '12 at 15:52

C# Application Scanning

2 Answers2

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