Read System Registry Values

Here is the example code:

 Imports Microsoft.Win32

dim MyValue as string
MyValue = RegValue(RegistryHive.LocalMachine, "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer", "Version")

Public Function RegValue(ByVal Hive As RegistryHive, ByVal Key As String, ByVal ValueName As String, Optional ByRef ErrInfo As String = "") As String
        Dim objParent As RegistryKey
        Dim objSubkey As RegistryKey
        Dim sAns As String
        Select Case Hive
            Case RegistryHive.ClassesRoot
                objParent = Registry.ClassesRoot
            Case RegistryHive.CurrentConfig
                objParent = Registry.CurrentConfig
            Case RegistryHive.CurrentUser
                objParent = Registry.CurrentUser
            Case RegistryHive.DynData
                objParent = Registry.DynData
            Case RegistryHive.LocalMachine
                objParent = Registry.LocalMachine
            Case RegistryHive.PerformanceData
                objParent = Registry.PerformanceData
            Case RegistryHive.Users
                objParent = Registry.Users
        End Select
        Try
            objSubkey = objParent.OpenSubKey(Key)
            'if can't be found, object is not initialized
            If Not objSubkey Is Nothing Then
                sAns = (objSubkey.GetValue(ValueName))
            End If
        Catch ex As Exception
            sAns = "Error"
            ErrInfo = ex.Message
        Finally
            If ErrInfo = "" And sAns = "" Then
                sAns = "No value found for requested registry key"
            End If
        End Try
        Return sAns
End Function