Hi, Andy.
Forgive my ignorance, I've noticed the Win7-64 has a Program Files AND a
Program Files (x86) folder.
This started with WinXP x64 about 6 years ago. It took me about 6 months to
figure out that the x86 folder was for 32-bit apps. Up to then, I thought
that it must be for 64-bit, since it never appeared in 32-bit WinXP, so I
had been forcing all my new apps into Program Files (no x86). Someone
finally explained that the "x86" referred to the 8086 family of Intel CPUs
(8086, 80286, 80386, etc.), which were all 32-bit. By that time, I had all
my apps thoroughly scrambled in the two folders. ;>( Didn't matter
anyhow; there were no 64-bit apps then - and there still are precious few!
Installing into the proper folder guides Windows x64 in finding the proper
versions of drivers, DLLs and other support files to go with each
application. (So I understand; I'm not a developer or techie of any kind.)
Properly written apps should now automatically go into Program Files IF they
are 64-bit; into Program Files (x86) for all those new and old 32-bit apps.
RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64