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Mystery Folder: C:\Program Files (x86)

  • 05-06-2008 5:19pm
    #1
    Branoic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,742 ✭✭✭


    I needed to re-install Vista on my newly delivered Komplett PC last night cos something happened to the existing installation and the PC wouldn't boot.

    When I was re-installing the OS, it informed me that as there was a pre-existing version of Vista there already, any files for that version would be moved to a folder called Windows.old from where I could access them later if I needed to.

    The new install was completed fine, but I've noticed that apart from the Windows.old folder, underneath the usual C:\Program Files folder there's now a second one which says C:\Program Files (x86). The sub-folders are largely the same, although there are some noticeable differences (eg, Microsoft Games exists under the first, but not under the second), so the folders are not identical.

    Also, any programs that I download or install are defaulting the install path to the (x86) folder.

    Anyone know what the story is with this mystery folder??


Comments

  • #2
    Spear
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 25,763 CMod ✭✭✭✭Spear


    Branoic wrote: »
    Anyone know what the story is with this mystery folder??

    It's for the old fashioned 32bit x86 programs, c:\Program Files is reserved for AMD64/x86-64 apps.


  • #3
    Branoic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,742 ✭✭✭Branoic


    I see. So it would be a bad idea to delete the whole folder? Should I leave programmes with their default install path if they want to install into that folder?


  • #4
    L31mr0d
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,067 ✭✭✭L31mr0d


    Branoic wrote: »
    I see. So it would be a bad idea to delete the whole folder?

    OH GOD YES!!! Don't delete that folder. If you have this folder it means you've installed a 64bit version of Vista. Vista needs this other programs files folder when installing legacy 32bit software (i.e. pretty much 99.9% of the software you will want to use with vista)


  • #5
    Branoic
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,742 ✭✭✭Branoic


    Right, probably leave it alone so :) So if I've changed some install paths on some programmes from this folder to the normal Program Files folder, will it have caused any problems? Should I re-install them in the correct (x86) folder?


  • #6
    Spear
    Moderators, Computer Games Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Help & Feedback Category Moderators Posts: 25,763 CMod ✭✭✭✭Spear


    Branoic wrote: »
    Right, probably leave it alone so :) So if I've changed some install paths on some programmes from this folder to the normal Program Files folder, will it have caused any problems? Should I re-install them in the correct (x86) folder?

    Realistically it won't have any bearing or impact, it's mostly for the sake of organisation. They're still normal folders.


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