How to get the Computer Description?

Question

Hi All,

How can I programatically get the Computer description? I'm using C# and .NET 2.0.

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I tried Console.WriteLine(Dns.GetHostName()); but it echoes the Full computer name instead.

I also used the following code:

ManagementObjectSearcher query1 = new ManagementObjectSearcher("SELECT * FROM Win32_OperatingSystem") ;
ManagementObjectCollection queryCollection1 = query1.Get();

foreach( ManagementObject mo in queryCollection1 )
{
    Console.WriteLine(mo["Description"].ToString());
}

But this seems doesn't work, I got this exception:

Exception System.IO.FileNotFoundException was thrown in debuggee: Could not load file or assembly 'System.Management, Version=2.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b03f5f7f11d50a3a' or one of its dependencies. The system cannot find the file specified.

Your second approach is correct, but the exception you're getting is odd. How did you add the reference to System.Management? — Avner Shahar-Kashtan, Feb 09 '12 at 13:32
@AvnerShahar-Kashtan: by importing it `using System.Management;` I also added it in the reference of my project. — yonan2236, Feb 09 '12 at 13:33
Import is one thing, but you also need to add a reference to it: Right click on the project root -> Add Reference -> .NET tab -> System.Management. — Avner Shahar-Kashtan, Feb 09 '12 at 13:36

score 8 · Accepted Answer · edited Nov 20 '12 at 16:25

8

It's in the registry value

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters\srvcomment

The simplest way to access it would be:

using Microsoft.Win32;  

string key = @"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\lanmanserver\parameters";
string computerDescription = (string)Registry.GetValue(key, "srvcomment", null);

edited Nov 20 '12 at 16:25

Eternal21

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answered Feb 09 '12 at 13:34

Sedat Kapanoglu

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Please, please, please, _don't_ do this. This registry key is [technically documented](http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc787346(v=ws.10).aspx), but this is _not_ the supported way of querying this information. Use `NetServerGetInfo` with `SERVER_INFO_101` - this will be available via C/C++, Pinvoke, or JNI. In particular, some AV products lock the reg key, but the Net API continues to work. – Nicholas Wilson Aug 21 '13 at 15:05
@NicholasWilson NetServerGetInfo seems very involved to just query that, with structures and all PInvoke definitions. – Sedat Kapanoglu Aug 21 '13 at 15:18
What's involved about a structure? I admit PInvoke is going to be inconvenient (maybe there is a managed API after all?), but it's less a pain than having it not work when Windows 9 is released or something. Try this: remove all write permissions on the lanmanserver regkey, then update the server comment, and query it using the Net API. Clearly the reg key is being emulated for legacy applications and is no longer the primary place for the information. – Nicholas Wilson Aug 21 '13 at 17:10
2

@NicholasWilson answering your question: declaring it. I'm not arguing your points, I'm just saying there is a huge gap of practicality between this and the "ideal" solution. Please feel free to add your alternative as an answer with a code sample. – Sedat Kapanoglu Aug 21 '13 at 19:13

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 27 '17 at 03:17

The code below will obtain the computer description. I didn't test this on .NET 2.0, but the management classes used have been around since v1.1 so it should work.

        using System.Management;

        string description;

        using (ManagementClass mc = new ManagementClass("Win32_OperatingSystem"))
        using (ManagementObjectCollection moc = mc.GetInstances())
        {
            foreach (ManagementObject mo in moc)
            {
                if (mo.Properties["Description"] != null)
                {
                    description = mo.Properties["Description"].Value.ToString();
                    break;
                }
            }
        }

None of this is recognised by powershell. – Bisclavret Feb 05 '21 at 00:01 — Bisclavret, Feb 05 '21 at 00:01

score 1 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:34

1

You need the DLL from the windows SDK System.Management.Automation.dll https://stackoverflow.com/a/1187978/169714

edited May 23 '17 at 12:34

Community

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answered Feb 09 '12 at 13:32

JP Hellemons

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How to get the Computer Description?

3 Answers3