Check if registry key exists using VBScript

Question

I thought this would be easy, but apparently nobody does it... I'm trying to see if a registry key exists. I don't care if there are any values inside of it such as (Default).

This is what I've been trying.

Set objRegistry = GetObject("winmgmts:\\.\root\default:StdRegProv")
objRegistry.GetStringValue &H80000003,".DEFAULT\Network","",regValue

If IsEmpty(regValue) Then
    Wscript.Echo "The registry key does not exist."
Else
    Wscript.Echo "The registry key exists."
End If

I only want to know if HKEY_USERES\.DEFAULT\.Network exists. Anything I find when searching mostly seems to discuss manipulating them and pretty much assumes the key does exists since it's magically created if it doesn't.

Solution 1

I found the solution.

dim bExists
ssig="Unable to open registry key"

set wshShell= Wscript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
strKey = "HKEY_USERS\.Default\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\Digest\"
on error resume next
present = WshShell.RegRead(strKey)
if err.number<>0 then
    if right(strKey,1)="\" then    'strKey is a registry key
        if instr(1,err.description,ssig,1)<>0 then
            bExists=true
        else
            bExists=false
        end if
    else    'strKey is a registry valuename
        bExists=false
    end if
    err.clear
else
    bExists=true
end if
on error goto 0
if bExists=vbFalse then
    wscript.echo strKey & " does not exist."
else
    wscript.echo strKey & " exists."
end if

Solution 2

The second of the two methods here does what you're wanting. I've just used it (after finding no success in this thread) and it's worked for me.

http://yorch.org/2011/10/two-ways-to-check-if-a-registry-key-exists-using-vbscript/

The code:

Const HKCR = &H80000000 'HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
Const HKCU = &H80000001 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Const HKLM = &H80000002 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
Const HKUS = &H80000003 'HKEY_USERS
Const HKCC = &H80000005 'HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG

Function KeyExists(Key, KeyPath)
    Dim oReg: Set oReg = GetObject("winmgmts:!root/default:StdRegProv")
    If oReg.EnumKey(Key, KeyPath, arrSubKeys) = 0 Then
        KeyExists = True
    Else
        KeyExists = False
   End If
End Function

Solution 3

Simplest way avoiding RegRead and error handling tricks. Optional friendly consts for the registry:

Const HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT   = &H80000000
Const HKEY_CURRENT_USER   = &H80000001
Const HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE  = &H80000002
Const HKEY_USERS          = &H80000003
Const HKEY_CURRENT_CONFIG = &H80000005

Then check with:

Set oReg = GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\.\root\default:StdRegProv")

If oReg.EnumKey(HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, "SYSTEM\Example\Key\", "", "") = 0 Then
  MsgBox "Key Exists"
Else
  MsgBox "Key Not Found"
End If

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR THE ABOVE:

• There are 4 parameters being passed to EnumKey, not the usual 3.
• Equals zero means the key EXISTS.
• The slash after key name is optional and not required.

Solution 4

In case anyone else runs into this, I took WhoIsRich's example and modified it a bit. When calling ReadReg I needed to do the following: ReadReg("App", "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\App\Version") which would then be able to read the version number from the registry, if it existed. I also am using HKCU since it does not require admin privileges to write to.

Function ReadReg(RegKey, RegPath)
      Const HKEY_CURRENT_USER = &H80000001
      Dim objRegistry, oReg
      Set objRegistry = CreateObject("Wscript.shell")
      Set oReg = GetObject("winmgmts:!root\default:StdRegProv")

      if oReg.EnumKey(HKEY_CURRENT_USER, RegKey) = 0 Then
        ReadReg = objRegistry.RegRead(RegPath)
      else
        ReadReg = ""
      end if
End Function

Solution 5

edit (sorry I thought you wanted VBA).

Anytime you try to read a non-existent value from the registry, you get back a Null. Thus all you have to do is check for a Null value.

Use IsNull not IsEmpty.

Const HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE = &H80000002

strComputer = "."
Set objRegistry = GetObject("winmgmts:\\" & _ 
    strComputer & "\root\default:StdRegProv")

strKeyPath = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion"
strValueName = "Test Value"
objRegistry.GetStringValue HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE,strKeyPath,strValueName,strValue

If IsNull(strValue) Then
    Wscript.Echo "The registry key does not exist."
Else
    Wscript.Echo "The registry key exists."
End If

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