This website uses cookies. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of cookies. Click Here to learn more about how we use cookies.
Turn on suggestions
Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type.
- Revenera Community
- :
- InstallShield
- :
- InstallShield Forum
- :
- Re: Installing 32 bit app under 64 bit Program Files
Subscribe
- Mark Topic as New
- Mark Topic as Read
- Float this Topic for Current User
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Printer Friendly Page
- Mark as New
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
‎Sep 13, 2011
09:40 AM
Installing 32 bit app under 64 bit Program Files
I have a Basic MSI project that is a 32-bit installation. I noticed on 64-bit systems, if the user changes the default install location from Program Files (x86) to Program Files, the installation still ends up under the 32-bit program files. Even when I look in the registry under the Microsoft Uninstall key, the install location is Program Files (x86). I know the WoW64 thing does this automatically. Is this considered good practice though?
Is there a way to override this for the entire installation? Or would it be considered best practices to have it relocate the install to x86 as it currently does?
Is there a way to override this for the entire installation? Or would it be considered best practices to have it relocate the install to x86 as it currently does?
(4) Replies
- Mark as New
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
‎Sep 13, 2011
03:50 PM
You could try using [ProgramFiles64Folder] instead of [ProgramFilesFolder] for the Destination property of your component(s). But I think that you would get a compile error (or at least a stern warning) if you did this without also changing the Template Summary (under General Information) to say x64; 1033 instead of Intel; 1033.
But if it is a true 32-bit build, the recommended practice is to install to "Program Files (x86)" and not "Program Files". "Program Files" is the recommended install location for true 64-bit (native 64-bit) builds.
But if it is a true 32-bit build, the recommended practice is to install to "Program Files (x86)" and not "Program Files". "Program Files" is the recommended install location for true 64-bit (native 64-bit) builds.
- Mark as New
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
‎Sep 14, 2011
12:23 PM
Right. If your package is 32-bit, Windows Installer will rewrite the 64-bit program files folder to the 32-bit path. But if your package is 64-bit, you cannot install it on a 32-bit system. The suite projects in IS2012 help you address this in a single distributable file, but the underlying bit issues still apply to each .msi file.
- Mark as New
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
‎Sep 14, 2011
12:31 PM
Okay, thanks. So it would be incorrect, or at least ill-advised, to try to force a 32-bit app to install under the 64-bit Program Files? I just want to be sure so I can explain in case I get back a defect stating the app can't install under Program Files on 64-bit systems...
- Mark as New
- Subscribe
- Mute
- Permalink
- Report Inappropriate Content
‎Sep 14, 2011
12:35 PM
From our perspective it is a limitation rather than a defect, as it is controlled intentionally this way by Microsoft's Windows Installer. So not technically a bug, but agreed that it's not quite the behavior you were expecting.