Windows 7: Installed App is in SysWOW64, but Registry shows System32

I have no idea what to make of this:

I just installed Adobe Shockwave 11, and then went into Revo Uninstaller to find the app's uninstaller location, and thus the location of the install... and it showed System32. I went to the relevant Registry entries and they all said the same: System32. Problem is, when I went to find the installed files and folders within Windows Explorer, they weren't where the Registry (and therefore, Revo) indicates; they were in SysWOW64.

What say ye gurus? I'm puzzled!

Thanks,
--Thri

Confusing, isn't it?

As I understand it, native processes that are 64-bit find “their” DLLs where they expect them: in the System32 folder. A second directory, SysWOW64, contains the 32-bit DLLs. The file system redirector does the magic of hiding the real System32 directory for 32-bit processes and showing SysWOW64 under the name of System32. So many applications are hard-coded for that System32 path, I guess Microsoft felt it wasn't feasible to rename it or remove it. This article goes into a lot more detail.

Windows x64 - All the Same Yet Very Different, Part 7: File System and Registry Redirection, Registry Reflection | sepago

Yes, indeed!

But your explanation has clarified that I probably don't need to feel any concern about Shockwave's location.

Later in the day, when I'm fully awake, I'll reread your post and take a look at the link you were good enough to provide.

Thanks for the answer!
--Thri