code: def _get_registered_executable(exe_name):
      
      registered = None
      if sys.platform.startswith('win'):
          if os.path.splitext(exe_name)[1].lower() != '.exe':
              exe_name += '.exe'
          import _winreg # pylint: disable=import-error
          try:
              key = "SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\App Paths\\" + exe_name
              value = _winreg.QueryValue(_winreg.HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, key)
              registered = (value, "from HKLM\\"+key)
          except _winreg.error:
              pass
          if registered and not os.path.exists(registered[0]):
              registered = None
      return registered
docs: Windows allow application paths to be registered in the registry.