Windows 7 - Question About C:\Program Files (x86)

Howdy Members,

I have a question concerning running programs in 32-Bit mode. The OS I'm running is Windows 7 Ultimate x64 (Retail version). The current HDD setup on my machine is two internal HDD's. The first HDD is C:\ & the second is D:\.

I run the OS on C:\ drive & have D:\ drive set up as a storage drive [pretty basic setup]. What I need to know is this. I would like to run program applications from D:\ drive in 32-Bit mode, but I'm not certain as to how I should set it up. How does the C:\ Program Files (x86) run applications in 32-Bit mode? In other words, is there some file in the C:\ Program Files (x86) folder that I should copy over to the D:\ drive folder that I want to run 32-Bit applications from, that will tell the OS to run them in 32-Bit mode? I want to make a directory of D:\ Program Files (x86) to run 32-Bit applications from. I'm sure there is a simple way to do this.

All comments are welcome, but please don't post a "guess" as a solution. If you've actually done this procedure successfully, I would really like to know how you did it. And yes, I know I could find the answer online, or find it by simply testing things out, but I thought I would save myself the time, and ask our knowledgeable members first. Any input would be appreciated though.


Thank you,
Max

Well installing programs to the Program Files (x86) folder is not the same as installing them in 32-bit mode.

That directory is just another folder. Chances are you could easily install those programs into your other Program Files folder, or your music folder, or even your desktop.

That folder just makes organization a bit easier.

I want to install the 32-Bit programs on D:\ drive, not somewhere else on C:\ drive. I've tried to run 32-Bit applications from a created folder on D:\ drive already, but got error messages, because the OS tries to run them in 64-Bit by default.

I don't think the C:\Program Files (x86) is "just another folder." However, I could be wrong, as I'm not certain about that.

There are a few folders in that directory that are hidden. Like "InstallShield Installation Information." Perhaps there's something in there that tells the OS to run those applications in 32-Bit mode?

I don't of a way to run them in 32-bit mode. In fact, I doubt there is a way.

To test to see if the Program Files (x86) is just another folder, try installing to the other Program Files folder, or even just a folder on your secondary drive.

Huh? I've already tried running 32-Bit applications from a folder on the secondary drive, I get errors, as I've already stated.

I suppose I could copy the Program Files (x86) folder over to the secondary drive at OS install, then deleting everything in it, but there should be a better way.

Right, those apps are just not compatible with x64.

That's one of the downsides to using 64-bit; there are a handful of programs that just won't run.

But they run fine out of C:\Program Files (x86). I think perhaps your missing what I'm driving at here, Bro.

Don't copy the folder you installed to; actually run the installer again and tell it to install on the drive.

When you install the program, not only does it create files and folders, but also registry entries. When you copy the folder to another location, the registry entries are not copied.

That can lead to errors, such as yours now.

I did.

I'm well aware of that.

That's not why, because I did install the applications on the secondary drive. I still think your missing what I'm driving at here.

I guess I'm not sure as to the problem then.

You have a 64-bit system, and the 32-bit program you are installing works fine if you install it to the default location, but not when you install it to another location.

Is this correct?

I'm sorry for this misunderstanding.