how to get default %temp% value

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Hello all,

i'm trying to get windoes %temp% value using ExpandEnvironmentString. but it can be redefined.
how to retrieve default %temp% value?

Posted 25-Jul-11 3:20am

mdfyz

Updated 25-Jul-11 3:51am

Stephen Wiria

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Albert Holguin 25-Jul-11 10:35am

Environment variables are meant to be redefinable (hence the variable part of the name), if you need some path that cannot be redefined, then you shouldn't use environment variables.

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«_Superman_» · Answer 1 · 2011-07-25T10:40:00

What do you mean by default value?
The value that was before your program was run?
You cannot know it.
You will need to run a program that starts with Windows and record it.

I think you must use GetTempPath as Madhu said.

Here is what it returns according to the documentation -
The GetTempPath function checks for the existence of environment variables in the following order and uses the first path found:
1. The path specified by the TMP environment variable.
2. The path specified by the TEMP environment variable.
3. The path specified by the USERPROFILE environment variable.
4. The Windows directory.
Note that the function does not verify that the path exists.
Symbolic link behavior—If the path points to a symbolic link, the temp path name maintains any symbolic links.

Richard MacCutchan · Answer 2 · 2011-07-25T03:59:00

Solution 2

Look at the registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Environment, and check the value of TMP and TEMP. If these values do not exist then you cannot be sure what the originals were.

Posted 25-Jul-11 3:59am

Richard MacCutchan

Madhu Nair · Answer 3 · 2011-07-25T03:59:00

Solution 1

Use API GetTempPath[^]

Posted 25-Jul-11 3:59am

Madhu Nair

Comments

Richard MacCutchan 25-Jul-11 10:10am

But this will only get the current version, which may not be the original when the user logged on.

Stephen Wiria 25-Jul-11 10:17am

There's an interesting article and discussion from Raymond related to this: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/oldnewthing/archive/2011/06/20/10176772.aspx

#realJSOP · Answer 4 · 2011-07-25T04:00:00

Solution 3

The default name is always "c:\Windows\TEMP". (for NT, it was C:\WINNT\TEMP). Keep in mind that the only real variable here is the path to the Windows folder (if the user installed it somewhere otgher than drive C:.

Posted 25-Jul-11 4:00am

#realJSOP

Comments

Richard MacCutchan 25-Jul-11 10:09am

Not true John, in Windows 7 it is %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Temp

#realJSOP 25-Jul-11 17:28pm

Check your windows folder.

Richard MacCutchan 26-Jul-11 9:54am

That is not in dispute, it's the value of the environment variables that OP is asking about.

Rakesh Meel · Answer 5 · 2011-09-13T21:00:00

Solution 5

ASM

DWORD WINAPI GetTempPath(
  __in   DWORD nBufferLength,
  __out  LPTSTR lpBuffer
);

Posted 13-Sep-11 21:00pm

Rakesh Meel

how to get default %temp% value

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