Popular knowledge: What is the Program Files (x86) folder under Windows?

Someone on Weibo today asked this question. After installing 64-bit Windows, you can see such a folder on the system disk (usually the C drive). It has a suffix of "x86" “ than the Program Files folder we all know. What is the difference between this folder with "x86″ and without “x86″?

In a nutshell: Program Files (x86) stores some 32-bit system files. It is the same as the normal Program Files and Windows folders, and it belongs to the system folder. Please do not change it at will.

A 64-bit Windows provides a technology, Windows on Windows 64 (ie WoW64). It allows 32-bit applications to run normally on 64-bit Windows, so users don't feel a lot of inconvenience during the transition from 32-bit to 64-bit. In order to make 32-bit programs run normally, 64-bit Windows comes with a large part of 32-bit system files. When a 32-bit program runs, the system will give it a 32-bit environment, so that 32 The bit program will think that it is running on 32-bit Windows. Windows system files are mainly stored in %SystemDrive%\\Program Files and %Windir%\\System32 (ie the usual C:\\Program Files and C:\\Windows\\System32). In 64-bit systems, these two folders store 64-bit system files. In order to store 32-bit system files of the same name, there are two other folders in the 64-bit system, %SystemDrive%\\Program Files (86 ) and %Windir%\\SysWoW64 (ie the usual C:\\Program Files (86) and C:\\Windows\\SysWoW64).

When a 32-bit program needs to access files in Program Files or System32, the system will automatically switch to Program Files (x86) or SysWoW64, so that 32-bit programs can run normally on 64-bit Windows. It is. A similar situation occurs when the application is installed. 64-bit programs are usually installed into Program Files, while 32-bit programs are installed in Program Files (x86).

From a 64-bit system perspective, WoW64 only provides a 32-bit compatible method, and the system itself is completely 64-bit, so put the Program Files (x86) and SysWoW64 folders. Deletion does not affect the normal operation of the system, but this practice is highly deprecated. The popularity of 64-bit applications is currently not high, and many vendors are reluctant to invest a lot of energy in 64-bit, such as popular chat tools and multimedia playback tools. In actual use, it is difficult to avoid using 32-bit applications, so keep WoW64.

Add some common questions: Why are there Program Files (x86) under C and D? Program Files, Program Files (x86) and Windows folders usually exist in the same disk (partition). If there is only Program Files under a disk and there is no Windows, it is not a system folder. It does not affect the system operation after deletion. Of course, it may affect some software.

How to program Files (x86) folder on the command line (DOS) Modern Windows supports long file names, you can directly CD “Program Files” or CD “Program Files (x86)&rdquo ;, pay attention to the quotes. If you are in the original DOS environment, the file name can only be as long as 8 characters, and Program Files is obviously more than 8 characters, it will be automatically abbreviated as "progra~1" Form, run CD progra~1 command in C drive to program Files, or CD progra~2 to enter Program Files (x86). More complicated methods can be found in this article.

What is the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit systems? Please see here.