32bit/64bit programs

[Motor T]

I'm running Windows7 Home Premium. In trying to understand the 64bit
and 32bit structure I'm a little (no, a lot) confused. In reading the
'file redirection' stuff I'm seeing 32bit applications are installed
in C:\Program Files(x86). Does this mean any older application I want
to install MUST be installed to the C:\ partition? I always thought it
was good practice to install apps & data to different partitions,
(other than the OS partition). I would like to continue this practice.
Thanks for any enlightenment.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I'm running Windows7 Home Premium. In trying to understand the 64bit
and 32bit structure I'm a little (no, a lot) confused. In reading the
'file redirection' stuff I'm seeing 32bit applications are installed in
C:\Program Files(x86). Does this mean any older application I want to
install MUST be installed to the C:\ partition?

To work properly, with the least effort and "pain," yes.

I always thought it was
good practice to install apps & data to different partitions, (other
than the OS partition).

Not quite. There's very little point in having a separate partition for
applications. Should you ever have to reinstall the OS, you'll still
also have to reinstall each and every application anyway, in order to
recreate the hundreds (possibly thousands) of registry entries and to
replace the dozens (possibly hundreds) of essential system files back
into the appropriate Windows folders and sub-folders.

However, placing data files on a partition or physical hard drive
separate from the operating system and applications can greatly simplify
system repairs/recoveries and data back-up.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:

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safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

 

[Ken Blake]

I'm running Windows7 Home Premium. In trying to understand the 64bit
and 32bit structure I'm a little (no, a lot) confused. In reading the
'file redirection' stuff I'm seeing 32bit applications are installed
in C:\Program Files(x86). Does this mean any older application I want
to install MUST be installed to the C:\ partition? I always thought it
was good practice to install apps & data to different partitions,
(other than the OS partition).

For apps, definitely not. For data, it *can* be good practice, but
only for *some* people. You might be interested in reading this
article on partitioning I've written: "Understanding Disk
Partitioning" at
http://www.computorcompanion.com/LPMArticle.asp?ID=326

 

[Motor T]

To work properly, with the least effort and "pain," yes.





Not quite. There's very little point in having a separate partition
for applications. Should you ever have to reinstall the OS, you'll
still also have to reinstall each and every application anyway, in
order to recreate the hundreds (possibly thousands) of registry
entries and to replace the dozens (possibly hundreds) of essential
system files back into the appropriate Windows folders and sub-folders.

However, placing data files on a partition or physical hard drive
separate from the operating system and applications can greatly
simplify system repairs/recoveries and data back-up.

Well, that surprised me. I didn't think of registry entries etc. I
guess I should have made my C:\ much bigger than I did. Thanks.

 

[Seth]

I'm running Windows7 Home Premium. In trying to understand the 64bit and
32bit structure I'm a little (no, a lot) confused. In reading the 'file
redirection' stuff I'm seeing 32bit applications are installed in
C:\Program Files(x86). Does this mean any older application I want to
install MUST be installed to the C:\ partition? I always thought it was
good practice to install apps & data to different partitions, (other than
the OS partition). I would like to continue this practice. Thanks for any
enlightenment.

You can still install your applications however you want. "Program Files"
vs. "Program Files(x86)" has nothing to do with file redirection. It's
entirely to keep them separate in case you have a 32 and 64bit version of
the same app and to make it easier to know what's what.

File redirection is a security feature. For example, an application should
never store data in \Program Files\program_name. File redirection
intercepts those calls and puts the files under the specific users profile.

As for keeping programs and data on different partitions, partitioning a
drive is a performance hit, so no thanks. Have programs and data on
separate drives (actual physical drives) dates back primarily to when drives
were smaller. Separate drives is also a performance boost.

Backing up data is easy in either case if you're not sloppy.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Well, that surprised me. I didn't think of registry entries etc. I
guess I should have made my C:\ much bigger than I did. Thanks.

You're welcome.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
http://www.officeforlawyers.com/howask.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell