This method retrieves the path to a system special folder, such as Program Files, Programs, System, or Startup, which can be used to access common information. Special folders are set by default by the system, or explicitly by the user, when installing a version of Windows.

The folder parameter designates the special folder to retrieve and must be one of the values in the Environment..::.SpecialFolder enumeration; any other value throws an exception.

For more information about special folders, see the CSIDL values topic.

The following example demonstrates how to use the GetFolderPath method to return and display the path associated with the folder parameter.

' Sample for the Environment.GetFolderPath method
Imports System

Class Sample
   Public Shared Sub Main()
      Console.WriteLine()
      Console.WriteLine("GetFolderPath: {0}", Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.System))
   End Sub 'Main
End Class 'Sample
'
'This example produces the following results:
'
'GetFolderPath: C:\WINNT\System32
'

// Sample for the Environment.GetFolderPath method
using System;

class Sample 
{
    public static void Main() 
    {
    Console.WriteLine();
    Console.WriteLine("GetFolderPath: {0}", 
                 Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.System));
    }
}
/*
This example produces the following results:

GetFolderPath: C:\WINNT\System32
*/

// Sample for the Environment::GetFolderPath method
using namespace System;
int main()
{
   Console::WriteLine();
   Console::WriteLine( "GetFolderPath: {0}", Environment::GetFolderPath( Environment::SpecialFolder::System ) );
}

/*
This example produces the following results:

GetFolderPath: C:\WINNT\System32
*/

• FileIOPermission 

  for reading directory paths. Associated enumeration: FileIOPermissionAccess..::.PathDiscovery

Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Starter Edition, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98, Windows CE, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC, Xbox 360

.NET Framework

.NET Compact Framework

XNA Framework

Reference