python - winreg.OpenKey throws filenotfound error for existing registry keys -

i facing difficulties in reading registry key created software. same code, able read other keys.

installdir = winreg.openkey(                             winreg.hkey_local_machine,                              "software\\microsoft\\mediaplayer\\player\\extensions\\types"                             ) #this works perfect #installdir1 = winreg.openkey(                               winreg.hkey_local_machine,                              "software\\mysoftware\\myevent\\is"                              ) #this gives filenotfound error  # list values owned registry key try:     = 0     while 1:         name, value, type = winreg.enumvalue(installdir, i)         print (repr(name))         += 1 except windowserror:     print ("bot donf") value, type = winreg.queryvalueex(installdir, "10") print("user is", repr(value))  value, type = winreg.queryvalueex(winreg.openkey(winreg.hkey_local_machine, "software\\mysoftware\\myevent\\is"), "v2") print("user is", repr(value)) 

traceback shows

 traceback (most recent call last):   file "d:/python_scripts/myclass.py", line 32, in <module>     value, type = winreg.queryvalueex(winreg.openkey(winreg.hkey_local_machine, "software\\mysoftware\\myevent\\is"), "v2")   filenotfounderror: [winerror 2] system cannot find file specified 

however windows reg query able retrieve value set.

#reg query hklm\software\mysoftware\myevent\is /v v2  hkey_local_machine\software\mysoftware\myevent\is v2    reg_dword    0x12 

any highly appreciated

there 2 views of registry. there 32-bit registry view , 64-bit registry view. default , in cases, 32-bit applications see the 32-bit registry view , 64-bit applications see 64-bit registry view.

the other view can accessed using key_wow64_64key or key_wow64_32key access flags.

if running 32-bit python , key part of 64-bit registry view, should use open key:

winreg.openkey(winreg.hkey_local_machine, "software\\mysoftware\\myevent\\is", access=winreg.key_read | winreg.key_wow64_64key) 

if running 64-bit python , key part of 32-bit registry view, should use open key:

winreg.openkey(winreg.hkey_local_machine, "software\\mysoftware\\myevent\\is", access=winreg.key_read | winreg.key_wow64_32key) 

if know key part of same view, adding proper key_wow64_* access flag ensure works no matter python architecture is.

in generic case, if have variable python architecture , not know in advance in view key be, can try finding key in current view , try other view next. this:

try:     key = winreg.openkey(winreg.hkey_local_machine, "software\\mysoftware\\myevent\\is") except filenotfounderror:     import platform      bitness = platform.architecture()[0]     if bitness == '32bit':         other_view_flag = winreg.key_wow64_64key     elif bitness == '64bit':         other_view_flag = winreg.key_wow64_32key      try:         key = winreg.openkey(winreg.hkey_local_machine, "software\\mysoftware\\myevent\\is", access=winreg.key_read | other_view_flag)     except filenotfounderror:         '''         not find key in both views.         ''' 

for more information, check out accessing alternate registry view.