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But why does it have to put it in different folders? Windows is already fully capable of determining the architecture of an executable by looking at the PE header. Why can it not load the appropriate environment when it loads the executable?
– Synetech
Commented Jun 27, 2012 at 17:40
1

I think it just a choice from Microsoft to easily show to users which architecture they want from two program version when opening a program. I mean, if there wasn't these two folders and if it was transparent to users(if it switch automatically), they wouldn't know if running a 32 or 64 bits app, even, they wouldn't know which program to open if running on 64 bits..
– Diogo
Commented Jun 27, 2012 at 17:48
1

If the user is a novice, then I highly doubt they would be running both versions. In fact, even advanced users will rarely ever run both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of a program. If there is a 64-bit version available and the system is 64-bit, then (sane) people are expected to use the 64-bit version; there is no reasonable excuse to install or run the 32-bit version unless you are a developer and doing testing. Of course if the 64-bit version is experimental, then one would expect non-devs/testers to use only the 32-bit version and uninstall it when the 64-bit version is ready.
– Synetech
Commented Jun 27, 2012 at 17:51
1

The 64-bit version of IE has a reputation for being terrible.
– Samuel Edwin Ward
Commented Jun 27, 2012 at 18:29
1

MS recommends using office32 unless you're working with datasets large enough to exceed memory constraints. I believe the need to recompile binary addons to work with office64; combined with not giving any benefits in normal use cases is behind the decision.
– Dan Is Fiddling By Firelight
Commented Jun 27, 2012 at 18:36

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