Solved Installing Apps in Program Files or Program Files *x86)


MrWho

MrWho

Well-known member
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8:22 PM
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Location
Israel
OS
Windows 11
I have wondered, for many a moon, why some programs are installed in " Program Files" while the majority are installed in " Program Files (x86)".
Just old-fashioned curiosity.
Thanks for reading
MrWho
 

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Windows 1111th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-11700F @ 2.50GHInstalled Physical Memory (RAM) 16.0 GBNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
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Windows 11
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Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
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11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-11700F @ 2.50GH
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Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
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Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 16.0 GB
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It's rather simple and been around awhile, the Program Files folder is for 64-bit/x64 programs while the Program Files (x86) is for 32-bit/x86 programs. A 64-bit install of Windows can run 32-bit programs but a 32-bit install of Windows cannot run 64-bit programs. Win10 and Win11 generally cannot run the older 16-bit programs. For Windows the first use of 64-bit pretty much was with WinXP Pro, still have a CD in my 'library' of programs. WinVista and later were either 32-bit or 64-bit but Win11 is only 64-bit.
 

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System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz12GB
    OS
    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2

  • At a glance

    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz16GBOnboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA a...
    Operating System
    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
Big thanks for the very rapid and very clear reply. 😊
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 1111th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-11700F @ 2.50GHInstalled Physical Memory (RAM) 16.0 GBNVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
OS
Windows 11
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
CPU
11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-11700F @ 2.50GH
Motherboard
Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
Memory
Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 16.0 GB
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
Sound Card
NVIDIA High Definition Audio
Browser
Chrome and Firefox
Antivirus
Windows
You're welcome.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two

  • At a glance

    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz12GB
    OS
    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2

  • At a glance

    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz16GBOnboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA a...
    Operating System
    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
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