If you are currently running any version of 64-bit windows operating system, you might have noticed that there is two types of programs files. One is the regular program files and another one is programs files (X86). Well, in this article, I am going to delineate between these folders and help you to understand why Windows really need both of them.
32-bit and 64-bit Computers and Windows
Since the mid of 90s, almost all PC were running on 32-bit Windows. But after the release of Windows 7, the sales of 64-bit Windows computer started and there were two programs files have installed in 64-bit Windows 7 computers. 64-bit PCs gained more popularity with times over 32-bit PCs. People will prefer 64-bit computers because they can handle much more RAM (memory) and they are generally faster because they use more advanced technology.
Well, whenever you install a program on a 64-bit CPU, you may have noticed, two types of programs folders. Some of programs are installed in “program files” and some of the programs are installed in “Programs files (X86).”
Windows separates the directories of 64-bit and 32-bit programs. The program files (X86) is one for storing 32-bit program. X86 stands for such kinds of processors like – 286, 386. 486, 586 (Pentium).
Either 64-bit software doesn’t act nicely in with 32-bit extensions, and vice versa. It increases the chances of the conflict if you try to install both 64-bit and 32-bit versions of programs on the same computer.
There are two separate program files folders ensure that 32-bit applications, totally unaware about a 64-bit system applications. Well, separating both kinds of applications will eliminate the chances of 32-bit application trying to load a 64-bit DLL, fail, and give an error message.
Apart from these program files, there are some others Windows Components that have both 32-bit and 64-bit copies. Sometimes these files are stored in winsxs (stands for Windows side by side) and syswow64 (Windows 32 on Windows 64).
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