GetSystemDirectory

The GetSystemDirectory function retrieves the path of the system directory. The system directory contains such files as dynamic-link libraries, drivers, and font files.

UINT GetSystemDirectory(
  LPTSTR lpBuffer,  // address of buffer for system directory
  UINT uSize        // size of directory buffer
);
 

Parameters

lpBuffer

Pointer to the buffer to receive the null-terminated string containing the path. This path does not end with a backslash unless the system directory is the root directory. For example, if the system directory is named WINDOWS\SYSTEM on drive C, the path of the system directory retrieved by this function is C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM.

uSize

Specifies the maximum size of the buffer, in characters. This value should be set to at least MAX_PATH.

Return Values

If the function succeeds, the return value is the length, in characters, of the string copied to the buffer, not including the terminating null character. If the length is greater than the size of the buffer, the return value is the size of the buffer required to hold the path.

If the function fails, the return value is zero. To get extended error information, call GetLastError.

Remarks

Applications should not create files in the system directory. If the user is running a shared version of the operating system, the application does not have write access to the system directory. Applications should create files only in the directory returned by the GetWindowsDirectory function.

QuickInfo

  Windows NT: Requires version 3.1 or later.
  Windows: Requires Windows 95 or later.
  Windows CE: Unsupported.
  Header: Declared in winbase.h.
  Import Library: Use kernel32.lib.
  Unicode: Implemented as Unicode and ANSI versions on Windows NT.

See Also

System Information Overview, System Information Functions, GetCurrentDirectory, GetWindowsDirectory, SetCurrentDirectory