Detect software installation using a browser

jezz · October 21st, 2009, 01:17 AM

Is it possible to determine using Javascript, if a particular software is installed on a client PC? If so, how would I go about doing this? An example would be great.

Currently, I can detect if a client has enabled pop-blockers, cookies and what browser and operating system their running , but I can't seem to detect if x software is installed.

I'm writing a web page that diagnosis the client PC and determine if they have the minimum system requirements.

Thanks,
Jezz

melvik · October 21st, 2009, 04:00 AM

dear friend
as u know JavaScript is clientBase language & of course it must be limited to access some info in PC to prevent other security problems
so I dont think u would be able to do it by JavaScript

joefawcett · October 21st, 2009, 04:06 AM

As stated it's not generally possible. In IE you have some chance using a trial and error approach on some software. For example you could test for msxml2.domdocument.6.0. by using:

Code:

var dom;
try
{
  dom = new ActiveXObject("msxml2.domdocument.6.0");
  alert("DomDocument.6.0 available.");
}
catch(e)
{
  alert("DomDocument.6.0 not available.");
}

but you can't actually tell why. It maybe installed but the user has disabled ActiveX. This approach would only be suitable on an intranet where you could guarantee that security settings allowed code like this to run.

jezz · October 21st, 2009, 07:57 AM

Thanks guys.

It does seem you need to run activeX to query software and version and its trial and error. I believe with Adobe Acrobat Reader you can do the following.

=new ActiveXObject('AcroPDF.PDF.1');

This seems to work.

Cheers,
Jezz