C:\Program Files (x86) and C:\Program Files


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I am confuse. Why do I have two Program Files folders?

Also both folders have 'Internet Explorer', 'Windows Mail', 'Windows Sidebar' and so son..

On the start menu I have: 'Internet Explorer (64-bit)' and 'Internet Explorer'

Huh? :cry:

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You're using 64 bit Windows. Don't worry about it. Just let the applications decide what folder when they install. Also use IE reg since I think flash or java doesn't work on the 64 bit version.

basically the two PF folders are to separate your applications for organization.

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Ah I see, thanks.

So why 'Windows Mail', 'Windows Media Player', 'Windows Defender', 'Windows Sidebar', 'Internet Explorer' are in C:\Program Files (x86) as well?

What the points?

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Ah I see, thanks.

So why 'Windows Mail', 'Windows Media Player', 'Windows Defender', 'Windows Sidebar', 'Internet Explorer' are in C:\Program Files (x86) as well?

What the points?

well logically speaking... those programs are 32-bit if they are in that folder.

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Those are all 32-bit applications because they need them to be compatible with the x86 Windows and there is no need to recompile them. (There are x64 versions of Media Player and Internet Explorer, they're just not the default ones.)

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Ah I see, thanks.

So why 'Windows Mail', 'Windows Media Player', 'Windows Defender', 'Windows Sidebar', 'Internet Explorer' are in C:\Program Files (x86) as well?

What the points?

The reason is to be compatible with third-party extensions (like the Flash plugin for IE, or a video codec for Windows Media Player), as these tend to be 32-bit only and thus can't be loaded by a 64-bit program. In other words, Windows includes both 64-bit and 32-bit versions of certain programs so that you can pick the one you prefer.

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Interesting..

Why many Microsoft programs are 32-bit as default?

I just checked the shortcuts on the start menu. Many

TO ensure that many plug-ins still work that don't have x64 versions available.

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Interesting..

Why many Microsoft programs are 32-bit as default?

I just checked the shortcuts on the start menu. Many

Virtually all browser plugins and multimedia codecs are 32-bit. If the 64-bit version of the programs were set as default, things would just stop working and users would have no clue what to do.

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Microsoft has provided 2 versions of some programs for compatibility purposes, the 32-bit versions are used by default, but you have the choice to run the 64-bit versions. Like Recon415 said, Flash and Silverlight don't work in the 64-bit version of IE8; and some third party codecs and plugins may not work with the 64-bit version of WMP. But eventually all 64-bit apps will be supported so you will have the choice to use the 64-bit versions. I've been using 32-bit IE8, but using 64-bit WMP without a problem so far... To tell which version of a program is running, right-click the taskbar, Start Task Manager, Processes tab, those that are 32-bit will show *32 next to them, all others would be 64-bit.

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