Program Files and Program Files (x86)

Home Premium Win 7 64-bit OEM

Just curious to understand why.....
Why is it that there is a Program Files and a Program Files (x86) in my system ?
I realize that the former is in reference to 64-bit OS. The latter is 32-bit.
I do notice that all the programs that I installed are in the (x86) file. Except CCleaners which somehow is in Program Files.

But, still don't see why 2 separate program files.
Or, in particular, why a (x86) file at all.

Thank you.

Arc said:

Program Files contains the programs which are 64 bit, and Program Files(x86) contains programs those are 32 bit .

As the most of your installed programs are 32 bit (usually... the same for me, too) they almost all are in the x86 folders; but the programs bundled with windows are 64 bit (like DVD maker, Microsoft Games, Windows Media Player, Sidebar etc) are contained in the Program Files folder .

Edit : There are two separate program files folders , to make 64 bit windows compatible to run 32 bit programs successfully .

I still fail to see the reason for a (x86) file.
As mentioned, my CCleaner file is in Program Files....
1. I did not have to select 64-bit version when I installed CCleaner.
2. I opened the CCleaner folder and there are 2 exe files.
CCleaner.exe and CCleaner64.exe
The former must be for 32-bit, and the latter is obvious.

My point : if CCleaner.exe can be stored in Program Files which is for 64-bit, then why not have all 32-bit programs stored there as well ?
Which comes back to my initial question .....
why Program Files (x86) is needed at all ?

Brink said:

t-4-2 said:

I still fail to see the reason for a (x86) file.
As mentioned, my CCleaner file is in Program Files....
1. I did not have to select 64-bit version when I installed CCleaner.
2. I opened the CCleaner folder and there are 2 exe files.
CCleaner.exe and CCleaner64.exe
The former must be for 32-bit, and the latter is obvious.

My point : if CCleaner.exe can be stored in Program Files which is for 64-bit, then why not have all 32-bit programs stored there as well ?
Which comes back to my initial question .....
why Program Files (x86) is needed at all ?

Hello t-4-2,

That's because CCleaner is actually a 64-bit program when installed on a 64-bit Windows 7.

If you look in Task Manager (Shift+CTRL+ESC) under the Processes tab like below, you will notice that .exe files with *32 next to them are 32-bit programs. The ones without this are 64-bit programs.

Thank you.
Yes, I never paid attention. I opened CCleaner, it did say 64-bit.
I have 2 entries with *32 appended.......
wlcomm.exe and wlmail.exe

Arc said:

Hi t-4-2 ... have you noticed that you have two versions of windows media player ( 32 bit and 64 bit) installed ?

Yes, I have 2 wmplayer.exe files, one in each program files.
The one in 64-bit files has 164 KB.
The one in 32-bit files has 161 KB.