BCDEDIT not recognized when running via C#

Question

When i try to run BCDEDIT from my C# application i get the following error:

'bcdedit' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

when i run it via elevated command line i get as expected.

i have used the following code:

            Process p = new Process();
            p.StartInfo.UseShellExecute = false;
            p.StartInfo.RedirectStandardOutput = true;
            p.StartInfo.RedirectStandardError = true;
            p.StartInfo.FileName = @"CMD.EXE";
            p.StartInfo.Arguments = @"/C bcdedit";
            p.Start();
            string output = p.StandardOutput.ReadToEnd();
            String error = p.StandardError.ReadToEnd();
            p.WaitForExit();
            return output;

i have also tried using

p.StartInfo.FileName = @"BCDEDIT.EXE";
p.StartInfo.Arguments = @"";

i have tried the following:

1. Checking path variables - they are fine.
2. running visual studio from elevated command prompt.
3. placing full path.

i am running out of ideas, any idea as to why i am getting this error ?

all i need is the output of the command if there is another way that would work as well. thanks

Answer 1

There is one explanation that makes sense:

1. You are executing the program on a 64 bit machine.
2. Your C# program is built as x86.
3. The bcdedit.exe file exists in C:\\Windows\\System32 .
4. Although C:\\Windows\\System32 is on your system path, in an x86 process you are subject to the File System Redirector . Which means that C:\\Windows\\System32 actually resolves to C:\\Windows\\SysWOW64 .
5. There is no 32 bit version of bcdedit.exe in C:\\Windows\\SysWOW64 .

The solution is to change your C# program to target AnyCPU or x64 .

Answer 2

If you are stuck with x86 application on both 32it/64bit Windows and You need to call bcdedit command, here is a way how to do that:

private static int ExecuteBcdEdit(string arguments, out IList<string> output)
{
    var cmdFullFileName = Path.Combine(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Windows),
                                       Environment.Is64BitOperatingSystem && !Environment.Is64BitProcess
                                           ? @"Sysnative\cmd.exe"
                                           : @"System32\cmd.exe");

    ProcessStartInfo psi = new ProcessStartInfo(cmdFullFileName, "/c bcdedit " + arguments) { UseShellExecute = false, RedirectStandardOutput = true };
    var process = new Process { StartInfo = psi };

    process.Start();
    StreamReader outputReader = process.StandardOutput;
    process.WaitForExit();
    output = outputReader.ReadToEnd().Split(new[] { Environment.NewLine }, StringSplitOptions.None).ToList();
    return process.ExitCode;
}

usage:

var returnCode = ExecuteBcdEdit("/set IgnoreAllFailures", out outputForInvestigation);

Inspiration was from this thread and from How to start a 64-bit process from a 32-bit process and from http://www.samlogic.net/articles/sysnative-folder-64-bit-windows.htm