how to extract common file path from list of file paths in c#

Question

What is the best way extract the common file path from the list of file path strings in c#?

Eg: I have a list 5 file paths in List variable, like below

c:\

Answer 1

Keep a tally of each segment and keep going while all the paths start with the tally.

void Main()
{
    string[] paths = new[] { @"c:\abc\pqr\tmp\sample\b.txt",
                            @"c:\abc\pqr\tmp\new2\c1.txt",
                            @"c:\abc\pqr\tmp\b2.txt",
                            @"c:\abc\pqr\tmp\b3.txt",
                            @"c:\abc\pqr\tmp\tmp2\b2.txt"};

    var test = new List();
    var common = paths[0].Split('\\').TakeWhile ( segment => 
    {
        test.Add ( segment );
        return paths.All ( path => path.StartsWith ( String.Join ("\\", test )  + "\\") ) ;
    } );

    Console.WriteLine ( String.Join ("\\", common ) );
}