The 'Program Files (x86)' and 'SysWOW64' folders explained / Windows 64-bit (Technical Article) Windows 64-bit: The 'Program Files (x86)' and 'SysWOW64' folders explained If you use a 64-bit computer with a 64-bit Windows installed (for example the 64-bit version of Windows 7) you have probably discovered that there are two new folders with the names Program Files (x86) and SysWOW64 on the hard disk, that do not exist on a 32-bit Windows. Maybe you have wondered what these folders are, why they exist and what kind of files they contain?

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In this article we will explain these folders and also explain why it is important to place with files with a specific bitness (32 or 64 bit) in the right folder on the hard disk. Advertisement 32-bit versus 64-bit computers and Windows Since the mid-90s almost all computers that have been sold have been 32-bit computers, and mostly they have had a 32-bit Windows installed. But after the release of Windows 7, the sales of 64-bit computers with a 64-bit Windows installed have increased a lot. In the coming years, more and more people will have a 64-bit computer with a 64-bit Windows in their home or office.

One reason to this is that the price of a 64-bit computer have decreased so much that they are almost as cheap as 32-bit computers. And people will prefer 64-bit computers over 32-bit computers because they can handle much more (RAM) memory and they are generally faster because they use more modern technology. A 32-bit computer with a 32-bit Windows installed can use a maximum of 3 to 4 GB (RAM) memory. Mostly around 3 GB because a large part of the address space is used by video cards and other devices such as network cards, sound cards etc. This is true even if you install 4 GB in the computer. Mostly only around 3 GB RAM will still be used.

With 64-bit computers and 64-bit Windows things are different. A 64-bit computer with a 64-bit Windows can handle so much RAM memory as 192 GB! On a 64-bit Windows, both 32-bit and 64-bit programs can be run Both 32-bit and 64-bit programs can be run on a 64-bit Windows. When a 32-bit program is run on a 64-bit Windows, a 32-bit emulator will be invoked to handle the 32-bit program.

The emulator will make the 32-bit application to think it is running on a 32-bit Windows and the same functionality that is accessible on a 32-bit Windows will also be accessible for the program on the 64-bit Windows. Normally it will be hard for the program to know if it is running on a 32-bit or 64-bit system, but if the program really needs to know the difference there are API functions available that the program can call if needed. Exceptions: Antivirus programs etc There are a few exceptions from this. 32-bit programs that function at low level, such as antivirus programs, will not always work on a 64-bit Windows; then a 64-bit version of the program must be used. During the installation, it is important to install files into correct folders As mentioned above the 32-bit emulator handles the situations when 32-bit programs are run on a 64-bit Windows and normally this works fine. But one sensitive phase is the installation of the 32-bit program. There exists special folders on the hard disk that is intended for 32-bit binary files only and it is very important that the installation program installs the 32-bit binary files to these folders.