I have a 32-bit program that is trying to access a key stored in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio in a Windows 64-bit setup running Windows 8.1.
Usually it works just fine and it will actually read that key from the Software\Wow6432Node.
However I have one machine (which doesn't seem that different from others) for which the read fails. When I look at the registry accesses with Process Monitor it shows that it is trying to read it from the VirtualStore and there it is not present, thus the failure.
Any reason why Windows is not presenting the merged view to my application as it does on other installs?
Thanks, Manu
The virtual store is a compatibility mechanism that was introduced with UAC, and is not directly related to WOW64. When a program that does not declare itself to be compatible with Windows Vista attempts to create a key or file but does not have access to do so, Windows redirects the write into the virtual store. From that point onwards, attempts to open that key or file will be automatically redirected to the virtual store.
To avoid being redirected to a virtual store key or file that another application may have created, use a manifest to declare that your application is compatible with Windows Vista.