Program Files and Program Files (x86) - any way to merge these?

Hi, first off I know there has been discussion about this before - I'd like to ask something more specific.

I'm one of these people who just likes to keep applications on a separate partition (apart from those I consider as an integral part of the system, such as drivers etc...). Using this, I've found no problems installing applications such as Photoshop with x86 and x64 versions side-by-side to the same partition (Folder structure = P(rograms):\Adobe\Photoshop and P:\Adobe\Photoshop (64-Bit). By default, Photoshop would have installed x86 and x64 versions side-by-side in a similar structure in Program Files (x86) anyway.

What I'm saying is, I understand the idea in keeping x86 and x64 applications (and their resources) in separate directories for less confusion and cross-incompatibility issues, but do they have to be kept in entirely separate superdirectories? Wouldn't C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IE(x86) and C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IE(x64) work just as well for these dual versions as the standard layout?

I just like to be organised and keep things in one place.

On a side note, again I understand the needs to keep x86 and x64 separate, but seeing as I have a 64-bit machine, do I need x86 and x64 versions of apps like Sidebar and Defender? I know that IE x86 is there for compatibility with web standards (I'm looking at you, flash!) but it seems nonsense that I need two versions of, say, Windows Mail (just in case, you know, I happen to receive "32-bit E-Mail".

For one thing, the x64 and x86 versions of iexplore.exe have the same name, as well as other files in the Internet Explorer folders.

Windows 7 uses separate directories for 32-bit and 64-bit applications to avoid conflicts with things like Active-X controls and personally, I wouldn't consider merging them.

You mention Internet Explorer in particular. As far as I'm aware, if you uninstall one version you do in fact lose both as both get uninstalled.

You also mention Flash. Adobe have released a 64-bit Flash version that also includes the 32-bit version when installed.

http://helpx.adobe.com/flash-player/...operating.html

@bbearren - I know, but I'm not talking about both .exes in one directory, more like one IE directory under program files, with two subdirectories - one each for the files, .exe etc for each version

{Such as
C:\

Program Files\

Internet Explorer\

IE\

IEx64 subdirs and files

IE(x86)\

IEx86 subdirs and files

etc for other dual architecture programs
}

@seavixen32 - I understand avoiding conflicts, just seems odd that none of these conflicts arise when using other applications with two versions, each in a subdirectory of a main directory for the program, like I mentioned with photoshop's default install location, and flash isn't the only part of the web unreachable by 64-bit browsers.

Also, things like Sidebar (The system is 64-bit, the OS is 64-bit, the desktop environment is 64-bit, if I ever really had the urge to use sidebar, why on earth would I use a 32-bit version. Similarly, to what extent is the usefulness of 32 and 64-bit e-mail apps. Even photoshop, I only ever use 64-bit (in fact I sometime install only 64-bit, and leave 32-bit out) and have no compatibility issues, nor missing any features.

Not sure whether this is of use to you, but you might want to read through this article: Single Package Authoring

And this one too: http://www.samlogic.net/articles/32-...6-syswow64.htm

Although no help to you now, with the proliferation of 64-bit computers there'll come a time when all software is written for 64-bit systems, so the problem won't arise then.

@seavixen32 Thanks, looks useful. Way to knackered to actually put it to good use at the moment though. Bookmarked.

On a side note, my installing of x86 and x64 applications (totally separate applications that don't share names) on a separate partition under a single directory, shouldn't cause any problems?

Another, even more of a side note - You're in P'boro - I'm from near there (well, near enough - St. Ives)

ozzy441 said:

@seavixen32 Thanks, looks useful. Way to knackered to actually put it to good use at the moment though. Bookmarked.

On a side note, my installing of x86 and x64 applications (totally separate applications that don't share names) on a separate partition under a single directory, shouldn't cause any problems?

Another, even more of a side note - You're in P'boro - I'm from near there (well, near enough - St. Ives)

As whs points out, no.

I know St Ives well. We sometimes park up there and take the guided busway into Cambridge.

In fact, there's even talk of extending it through to Ramsey and Peterborough using the old railway trackbed.