Sysnative folder in Windows 64-bit explained

With the liberate of Windows seven of 64-bits, at that spot was a petty modify introduced inwards the normal allotment of folders inwards the Windows directory. Two novel folders are included inwards the 64-bit edition of Windows 7, Windows 8 together with Windows 10. They are Sysnative together with SysWOW64 folders. This is exclusively inwards 64-bit Windows. If you lot run a 32-bit Windows on a 64-bit machine, you lot won’t come across them. Neither volition you lot come across them when running 32-bit Windows on a 32-bit machine.

There is about other folder exterior the Windows directory, together with it is called Program Files (x86). We are used to the advert of folder Program Files that houses the executables of our programs. In 64-bit systems, the 64-bit programs are stored inwards the Program Files folder piece the 32-bit programs are housed inwards Program Files (x86). However, Windows uses something similar an emulation for running 32-bit programs on a 64-bit machine. And hence, at that spot is require to know together with empathize what are the organisation folders nether Windows (64 bit) together with so that you lot know how to achieve the file you lot want.

Unlike the 32-bit machines, where the 32-bit DLLs are stored inwards the System32 folder, the 64-bit version of Windows stores DLLs related to 64-bits inwards the System32 folder. This is to repose the programming purposes together with to render backward compatibility. That is, if a 64-bit plan refers to System32 inwards its code, it volition transcend the 64-bit DLL automatically when called. This helps developers equally they don’t lead maintain to modify the code inwards their programs for Windows 64-bit.

In short, Windows moved all the 32-bit DLLs from System32 folder inwards Windows directory to about other folder together with so that previous programs require non endure recoded to transcend the proper DLLs fifty-fifty when using APIs – afterward upgrading to 64-bit. The work occurs when a 32-bit application tries to access the System32 folder. In this case, the plan volition crash equally it is non written to grip 64-bit DLLs.

SysWOW64 Folder inwards Windows 64-bit

All the 32-bit DLLs lead maintain been moved to the novel SysWOW64 folder inwards the 64-bit version of Windows 7, Windows 8 together with Windows 10, together with so when the 32-bit programs telephone telephone upon 32-bit DLLs, they lead maintain to achieve the SysWOW64 folder.

You may experience that the developers volition lead maintain to scan their programs together with applications to request the DLL functions to the SysWOW64 folder. But Microsoft has already taken attention of it. If it is a 32-bit plan that is calling C:\Windows\System32, an emulator volition redirect the path to C:\Windows\SysWOW64. That is, to run 32-bit programs inwards Windows 64-bit, an emulator is used, together with so that at that spot is proper backward compatibility together with to avoid errors when calling DLL files.

Sysnative Folder inwards Windows 64-bit

There may endure cases where a 32-bit plan or application mightiness require a 64-bit DLL. In that case, you lot volition lead maintain to usage the redirection folder Sysnative. You tin regard the SysNative to endure a virtual folder together with an alias that points to the System32 folder. It doesn’t be physically on your system, equally such. So if your 32-bit plan needs to access a 64-bit DLL, produce non usage C:\Windows\System32 because the 32-bit plan emulator volition lead maintain it to the 32-bit DLL folder called SysWOW64. Instead, usage C:\Windows\SysNative equally the path to the DLL program. Using Sysnative inwards the path volition redirect it to System32 folder instead of SysWOW64 folder.

If you lot opened upward File Windows Explorer, you lot volition non discovery the Sysnative folder inwards C:\Windows. Even if you lot laid Folder Options to demo hidden together with organisation folders. This is because, Windows File Explorer is a 64-bit plan when running inwards a 64-bit Windows, together with the Sysnative folder is visible together with accessible from 32-bit programs only.

To amount up:

1. System32 folders incorporate 64-bit DLL files.
2. SysWOW64 contains 32-bit DLL files, together with the 32-bit programs are auto-redirected to this folder
3. Sysnative is a redirection folder that allows 32-bit programs to telephone telephone 64-bit DLLs.

Additional read: MSDN.

Want to know the difference betwixt System32 together with SysWOW64 folders?

Source: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/

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