Recipe20.7.Getting the Windows Directory

Recipe 20.7. Getting the Windows Directory

Problem

You need to know the full path to the Windows directory.

Solution

Call the GetWinDir method created for your use here to return the Windows directory path in a string:

 public static string GetWinDir() {     string sysDir = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.System);     return Path.GetFullPath(sysDir + @"\.."); }

Discussion

There is an enumeration to describe almost every significant operating system folder (Environment.SpecialFolder). But for some reason, since the inception of .NET, the Windows directory has been deemed unacceptably off-limits. This recipe exists for want of an Environment.SpecialFolder.Windows value. Another way to get at this value is to use the Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable function, passing in "windir" as the value.

Table 20-3 shows all of the other places in the OS you can get through Environment.SpecialFolder.

Table 20-3. The Environment.SpecialFolder enumeration values
Value	Description
`ApplicationData`	Roaming user's application data directory
`CommonApplicationData`	Application data directory for all roaming users
`CommonProgramFiles`	Folder for common application components
`Cookies`	Directory where cookies are stored
`Desktop`	The logical desktop folder
`DesktopDirectory`	The physical desktop folder
`Favorites`	Where favorites are stored on disk
`History`	Internet history items folder
`InternetCache`	Where temporary Internet files are stored
`LocalApplicationData`	Nonroaming user's application data directory
`MyComputer`	Physical location of My Computer folder
`MyDocuments`	Physical location of My Documents folder
`MyMusic`	Physical location of My Music folder
`MyPictures`	Physical location of My Pictures folder
`Personal`	Physical location of personal documents
`ProgramFiles`	Physical location of the official Program Files directory
`Programs`	Folder where Program Groups are stored
`Recent`	Folder containing most recently used documents
`SendTo`	Send To menu item folder
`StartMenu`	Folder containing the Start menu structure and items
`Startup`	Folder corresponding to the Startup Program Group location
`System`	The system directory
`Templates`	Common location for document templates