Why does 64bit windows needs two program files and folder

This two program files (Program Files and Program Files (x86)) is available only in 64bit operating system. Then how to check your system is 32bit or 64bit, follow the following procedure.

Method 1:

• You can see the "Computer or My Computer icon" on Desktop Right click on that icon.
• Then Click on Properties.

Method 2:

• Click on start menu or press windows logo button on your keyboard.
• Right Click on Computer.
• Then click on Property.

Then you can see the system type 32bit or 64bit. See the following image.

Basic information about my computer

Friends asked me about the folders Program Files and Program Files (x86). "Why are there two, and is there some advantage of using one over the other?" 

First, you shouldn't pick one over the other. Let Windows make that decision when it installs the software.

Since 2005, Microsoft has offered both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of its Windows operating system (OS) to support new 64-bit CPUs. So, if you see a folder Program Files (x86) on your computer, it means that you are running a 64 Bit Windows OS. You will notice that there are two separate folders where your Program Files are kept

• Program Files (x86), which contains 32-bit programs and applications, and.
• Program Files, which contains 64-bit programs and applications.

Windows runs smoother if it keeps these two very different types of code separate. The operating system can't assume that an x86 program even knows that such a thing as x64 code exists, and that could cause problems if they cross. For instance, if a 32-bit program went looking for a .dll, and found one that came with a x64 version, the program wouldn't work and wouldn't know why it didn't work. Keeping them in separate folders is the simplest way to avoid such problems.

So why is 32-bit code identified as x86 instead of x32? The 16-bit chips in early PC used the 8086 architecture. Even when the chips went 32-bit in the late 1980s, they still used 8086 code, and x86 model numbers. (Remember the 386 and 486 processors?) So the number 86 now refers to pre-x64 code, whether it's 16- or 32-bit, although the 16-bit x86 code won't run in 64-bit versions of Windows.

Other than the Program Files, there are also some other components that have both 32-bit and 64-bit version of Windows. Some of these are stored in Winsxs (stands for Windows Side By Side) and WoW64 (Windows 32-bit on Windows 64-bit), which is a subsystem of the Windows OS capable of running 32-bit applications that is included in all 64-bit versions of Windows.

Two Program Files Folders in Windows 7

If you have the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, or Ultimate edition, you may have noticed that there are two Program Files folders on your hard drive.

One is simply labeled Program Files and the other is labeled Program Files (x86). The first folder is the default location for all of your 64-bit programs. It does not have an extra label at the end because as a 64-bit operating system, it is assumed that you will have only 64-bit applications installed on your computer.

The second folder labeled Program Files (x86) is the default location for all of your 32-bit applications. In a sense, it is a folder designed for legacy software that is left over from the days of 32-bit operating systems. The x86 portion of the folder name refers to the x86 32-bit architecture upon which the first 32-bit processors were developed such as the 386, 486, and Pentium CPUs.

Unfortunately, switching from 32-bit to 64-bit applications and operating systems is not as simple as Microsoft would like. To make the switch, every software vendor, hardware manufacturer, and user would suddenly have to stop making and using anything built on a 32-bit architecture and begin using 64-bit. This is entirely impractical because most people are not willing to just junk their investment in hardware and software and buy everything new again.

Microsoft’s solution to this transition from 32-bit to 64-bit has been to add legacy support for most 32-bit applications. In other words, most 32-bit applications will function in the 64-bit operating environment. Keep in mind that other operating systems operating on a 64-bit architecture cannot load or run 32-bit applications at all.

To help make the transition easier, Microsoft has designated that all 32-bit application should, by default, be loaded into the Program Files (x86) folder rather than getting mixed in with true 64-bit applications in the regular Program Files folder.

Soon, however, most applications will be 64-bit making the need for multiple Program Files folders unnecessary. Still, even Microsoft when it released Windows Vista 64-bit, failed to develop and release a 64-bit version of Office 2007 that was released at the same time.

Keep in mind that by the time we all make the switch to 64-bit applications, it is likely that talk of 128-bit architectures will force us to go through the whole process again.