Programs Files vs Program files (x86)

What is the difference between the "Program Files" folder & the "Program Files (x86)" folder, in C Drive? Various programs seem split almost equally between the 2, after I upgraded from Vista to 7, except that Internet Explorer is in both, meaning that when I "Open with" for a text file I get IE listed twice.

Can I move everything to one or other of these & delete the other one? Is one for 64-bit and one for 32-bit programs or something like that?

Thanks very much!

Milton.

Ahoj Milton,

Áno, dva programový súbor priečinkov, ktoré sú uvedené sú pre 32 bit a 64-bitové verzie Windows 7. Priečinok s (x86) je pre 32 bit verziu.

Pre viac informácií kliknite na odkaz uvedený nižšie

32-bitové a 64-bitový Windows: najčastejšie otázky

http://Windows.Microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/32-bit-and-64-bit-Windows-Frequently-Asked-Questions

Môžete tiež skontrolovať na odkaz nižšie uvedených pre ďalšie objasnenie.

http://Social.TechNet.Microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7itprogeneral/Thread/7373ff3e-0207-4774-b042-c1324e70f1e5

Dúfam, že táto informácia je užitočná.

Amrita M

Technickej podpory spoločnosti Microsoft odpovede

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Tomáš123,

You do not have to take any special action when installing applications: 

1. If it is a 64 bit application and your OS is 64 bit then the application's own installation procedure will install it into the Program files folder.
2. If it is a 64 bit application and your OS is 32 bit then the application's installation procedure will fail - a 32 bit OS is not compatible with a 64 bit application.
3. If it is a 32 bit application and your OS is 64 bit then the application's own installation procedure will install it into the Program files (x86) folder.
4. If it is a 32 bit application and your OS is 32 bit then the application's own installation procedure will install it into the Program files folder - 32 bit OSs do not have a Program files (x86) folder.

Applications do not install twice into both the Program files folder and the Program files (x86) folder.  In some cases, 64 bit applications on a 64 bit OS might sometimes create files in both of these folders.  This merely indicates that the 64 bit application has some 32 bit components - it does not mean that it has installed both versions. 

The Program files (x86) folder is for 32 bit applications not 64 bit applications.

You might find that some add-ons [rather then full applications] appear to break these rules but they do not really.  For example [actually, it is the only example I know of] -  

• If you are using the 32 bit version of IE then installing Flash Player would install a 32 bit add-on
• If you are using a 64 bit version of IE then installing Flash Player would install a 64 bit add-on as well 
• This unusual situation is caused by the existence of both 32 & 64 bit versions of IE in 64 bit Windows 7.

• 32 bit application versions will work on both 32 & 64 bit OSs.
• Not all applications have a 64 bit version - these applications are provided as 32 bit applications for use on both 32 & 64 bit OSs.
• If a 64 bit version of the application exists then it will be able to take advantage of the increased processing power & memory-handling capability of a 64 bit OS and will run faster then its 32 bit version.
• Applications might be supplied in both 32 and 64 bit versions so you simply have to choose the correct one.  If the application does not tell you whether it is 32 or 64 bit then it is probably 32 bit.  If you accidentally choose the 64 bit version but your OS is 32 bit then the installation will fail.
• An increasing number of applications have a single installation file that checks your OS then installs the correct version [into the correct folder].

I see. Thankyou. 1 last question then... if I'm running 64-bit IE and these 32-bit only programs are out there, will i have to close and open the 32-bit version of IE, or do they both work together?

I appreciate everyones answers, thankyou!

Milton.