A few Vista x64 queries (new user)

Hi all,

I've just received my laptop back after an upgrade from x32 to x64 Vista Home Premium.
I know this is probably a stupid question with a really simple answer (so excuse me for sounding a bit clueless), but I now have two Program Files folders on my HDD. One is "Program Files" and the other is "Program Files (x86)". What does the x86 one mean as I didn't have this one under my x32 Vista.
I was thinking it was a newly created folder especially for x64 programs? If that's the case though, why not call it x64?

Also, I just downloaded and installed the x64 version of Internet Explorer 8 and I have no idea which one of the above Program Files folders it has installed to, as there is an IE in both folders.

I was told IE7 is an integral part of Vista and cannot be uninstalled, so I installed IE8 over the top of it (will it have replaced IE7? I don't want space taken up with it writing IE8 on as a separate program).

Help!

 

heres how it works. "Program Files" is for 64 bit programs, and "Program Files (x86)" is for 32 bit. 64 bit programs go into "Program Files", and all the other 32 bit programs go into "Program Files (x86)" I'm not sure about if ie7 will be replaced by ie8, I dont use it.

Check Out DetlevCM's 64 bit Thread Out. Some Good Info About 64v32.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=357233

 

Will my OS distinguish which folder it will install to? For example, I just tried to download and install STEAM for my games and it picked the x86 folder by default. (For some reason though, when I try to run it, it is saying that it can't find the .exe)

 

Yes, your OS will distinguish whether it is a 64-bit installer, or a 32-bit installer, by itself. Steam went to the x86 folder because it's a 32-bit program (and as to why it can't find the exe, I don't know, that's another problem altogether). And don't bother with that "guide" j-dogg posted. It's half-baked at best. Post your specific questions here, and we'll help you out.

 

It was just some info. Wasn't telling him to live by it, and never create a post of his own.

 

Who said you were?

 

I just had to change my Jscript and vbscript in the Command Prompt in order to run my Photoshop CS3 installer, as it seems the installer uses x32 scripts to run (which I found out upon Googling the issue).

This is the link I went to in order to do it: http://blogs.msdn.com/rickbrew/arch...talling-adobe-photoshop-cs3-on-vista-x64.aspx

What I was wondering was, if I reboot, does my system revert back to using the x64 scripts in my System32 folder, and not the x32 ones in the SysWOW64 folder that I have currently diverted to for the purposes of running this installer?

 

You could always restart and find out, and also let us all know!

 

How would I be able to tell though?

 

Uninstall PS CS3, and then re-install it? Take one for the team buddy, Vidic did yesterday!

 

Cripes. It takes forever to uninstall CS3 and forever to install.

Oh well... here goes. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

I used to do these experiments for my mates as well, a day or two before I had to format and re-install, try some of the softwares they had for compatibility before they install it, or try a setting or two. No fun but so helpful!

 

Okay, so CS3 installs with no hitches even after uninstalling and restarting. So I am assuming that it is now using the x32 jscript and vbscript. I'm not sure if that means that it is using a x32 script instead of x64 and whether that will now cause me problems. Any idea?

 

I don't think that there'll be any troubles. You just registered a DLL. Everything'll work fine. I was worried when you didn't show up for some time though!

But I expect Gary to come out here and rain or our parade. He's the local Mr.-I-know-it-all! No one likes him!

 

A 32 or 64-bit applications can be anywhere on your computer it doesn't mater. The OS knows if your program is 32 or 64-bit.
Program File's folder is just for you... just to separate Windows application 32 and 64-bit... because Windows Media Player 32 and 64-bit both have the same name on it's files.

To take advantage of Windows Media Pplayer 64-bit, and movie thumbnail preview in Vista 64-bit. You need a 64-bit codec pack.
I suggest this one. Te 32 and 64-bit can be installed without any conflicts (just make sure you uninstall the current codec pack)
32-bit: http://shark007.net/vistacodecpackage.html
64-bit: http://shark007.net/vistacodecpackage.html

I used these since Vista beta, and they worked great, never failed me!

 

Ah, nice one. I use CCCP Codec pack though, which plays my .mkv files nicely... along with anything else I throw at it. Zoom Player that comes with that Codec pack is quite nice too. I like the fact you can pause or restart a film by clicking anywhere on the screen.

EDIT: I'm currently uninstalling my CCCP Codec Pack and trying the x64 version of the links you posted. I'll see how they go. I've been reading stuff about it on the website and it sounds good.