Private Function RegGetStringValue(ByVal hKey As Long, _
                                   ByVal sValue As String, _
                                   dwDataSize As Long) As String

   Dim sDataRet As String
   Dim dwDataRet As Long
   Dim success As Long
   Dim pos As Long
   
  'returns number of spaces based on dwDataSize
   sDataRet = Space$(dwDataSize)

  'get the size of the null terminating char
   dwDataRet = Len(sDataRet)
   
   success = RegQueryValueEx(hKey, sValue, _
                             ByVal 0&, dwDataSize, _
                             ByVal sDataRet, dwDataRet)
                             
   If success = ERROR_SUCCESS Then
      If dwDataRet > 0 Then
      
         pos = InStr(sDataRet, Chr$(0))
         RegGetStringValue = Left$(sDataRet, pos - 1)
         
      End If
   End If
End Function