Checking and opening different browsers using wsh script - shell

Question

hey guys i know this may sound stupid, but i am stuck with this question in my head...im really new to this wscript or vbscripting....at the time of writing i figured out how to open IE using wscript...heres the code
Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Return = WshShell.Run("iexplore.exe www.bbc.co.uk", 1)
but i cant figure out how to check if firefox is installed, then open firefox, if chrome is installed, open chrome, and the same thing goes for all the browser types.....
Update:
I did a little research and thought why not check the registry for that, so i came up with this script for checking the registry, now i dont know why but this always gives the same output "key does not exists" event though i have this registry in my system
keyTest = keyExists("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Mozilla Firefox")
If keyTest = False Then
wscript.echo "Key does not exist"
Elseif keyTest = True then
wscript.echo "Key exists"
End if
Function keyExists (RegistryKey)
If (Right(RegistryKey, 1) <> "\") Then
RegistryKeyExists = false
Else
On Error Resume Next
WshShell.RegRead RegistryKey
Select Case Err
Case 0:
keyExists = true
Case &h80070002:
ErrDescription = Replace(Err.description, RegistryKey, "")
Err.clear
WshShell.RegRead "HKEY_ERROR\"
If (ErrDescription <> Replace(Err.description, _
"HKEY_ERROR\", "")) Then
keyExists = true
Else
RegistryKeyExists = false
End If
Case Else:
keyExists = false
End Select
On Error Goto 0
End If
End Function

Answer 1

Problems in your example:
In keyExists(), a variable named RegistryKeyExists is being used for the return value from the function when keyExists is intended.
The Shell object variable WshShell is never instantiated via CreateObject().
The value of the registry key of interest does not end with a backslash.
Here's my streamlined version of your code which I believe accomplishes your objective:
Option Explicit ' programming with your seatbelt on :-)
Dim keys(4)
keys(0) = "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Mozilla Firefox"
keys(1) = "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Mozilla Firefox\"
keys(2) = "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Bad\Key\"
keys(3) = "BAD\Root\On\This\Key\Causes\Exception"
keys(4) = "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\"
On Error Resume Next
Dim i, key
For i = 0 To UBound(keys)
key = keyExists(keys(i))
If Err Then
WScript.Echo "An exception occurred reading registry key" _
& " '" & keys(i) & "':" _
& " [" & Err.Number & "] " _
& Err.Description _
& ""
Else
If keyExists(keys(i)) Then
WScript.Echo "Key *exists*: [" & keys(i) & "]"
Else
WScript.Echo "Key does *not* exist: [" & keys(i) & "]"
End If
End If
WScript.Echo "--"
Next
Function keyExists (RegistryKey)
Dim keyVal, errNum, errDesc
keyExists = False
On Error Resume Next
Dim WshShell : Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
keyVal = WshShell.RegRead(RegistryKey)
Select Case Err
Case 0
keyExists = True
Case &h80070002
' key does not exist
Case Else
errNum = Err.Number
errDesc = Err.Description
On Error GoTo 0
Err.Raise vbObjectError + 1, "WScript.Shell", _
"Something went wrong reading the registry:" _
& " [" & Hex(errNum) & "] " & errDesc
End Select
On Error GoTo 0
Set WshShell = Nothing
End Function
' End

Answer 2

Generally following code can be used to find out to get List of All Installed Software.
Here I have used Message box to display this list, you can use if condition to find out desired software is installed or not............
' List All Installed Software
Const HKLM = &H80000002 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
strComputer = "."
strKey = "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\"
strEntry1a = "DisplayName"
Set objReg = GetObject("winmgmts://" & strComputer & _
"/root/default:StdRegProv")
objReg.EnumKey HKLM, strKey, arrSubkeys
For Each strSubkey In arrSubkeys
intRet1 = objReg.GetStringValue(HKLM, strKey & strSubkey, _
strEntry1a, strValue1)
If strValue1 <> "" Then
MsgBox VbCrLf & "Display Name: " & strValue1
End If
Next
I have tried this code on machine & found that,it just listing Firefox browser, even when i have installed chrome & IE.So this regular method wont work surely for everyone. After that I have checked registry and found that,all browser are listed on.....
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\
So we can write code to find is is particular browser is installed or not.
Following sample code to check if Chrome & Firefox is installed or not and if installed open it with URL passed
Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Const HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE = &H80000002
strComputer = "."
Set oReg=GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & _
strComputer & "\root\default:StdRegProv")
strKeyPath = "SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\chrome.exe\shell\open\command\"
strValueName = ""
oReg.GetStringValue HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE,strKeyPath,strValueName,strValue
If InStr(1,strValue,"chrome",vbTextCompare) Then WshShell.Run("chrome www.google.com")
strKeyPath = "SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\open\command\"
strValueName = ""
oReg.GetStringValue HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE,strKeyPath,strValueName,strValue
If InStr(1,strValue,"firefox",vbTextCompare) Then WshShell.Run("firefox www.google.com")
Similarly you can modify this code for IE, Opera & Safari
Hope this helps.......