How to check with C# where a program is installed

Question

I need to check where a program is installed by program name (name that appears in Add or Remove Programs). What is the best way to that so that it\'d work fine for all lang

Answer 1

To add to Oliver's answer I have wrapped up this check inside a static method.

public static bool IsProgramInstalled(string programDisplayName) {

    Console.WriteLine(string.Format("Checking install status of: {0}",  programDisplayName));
    foreach (var item in Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Uninstall").GetSubKeyNames()) {

        object programName = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Uninstall\\" + item).GetValue("DisplayName");

        Console.WriteLine(programName);

        if (string.Equals(programName, programDisplayName)) {
            Console.WriteLine("Install status: INSTALLED");
            return true;
        }
    }
    Console.WriteLine("Install status: NOT INSTALLED");
    return false;
}