Windows - Cpu (Instruction Set Architecture and word size - 32 or 64 Bit)
Table of Contents
1 - About
Computer - Central processing unit (CPU) in Windows showing particularly:
In a 64 bit environment, you will find two environment by word size:
- a 64 bit
- and a 32 bit
You may then not able to see:
- registry key
- ODBC DSN connection
Just because when you start the default software it will be in a 64 bit form.
Just start the same software in the 32 bit directory and you will see them.
2 - Articles Related
3 - Management
3.1 - Windows Operating System Location
Executable location by words size.
| word size | Mode | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 64 bit | 32 bit | C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64 |
| 64 bit | 64 bit | C:\WINDOWS\system32 |
| 32 bit | 32 bit | C:\WINDOWS\system32 |
3.2 - How to get the architecture and word size
3.2.1 - Environment variable
Windows - Environment Variable
echo %PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE%
AMD64
AMD64 is a synonym for a x86-64 processor
This is a x86 architecture with a 64 bit word
3.2.2 - Registry
Windows - Registry
To check the processor architecture, you have to:
- open the registry. Tape regedit.exe in a command line (shell)
- go to the following key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment
- and check the value of PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE.
ie the following windows registry value:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Environment\PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE
3.2.3 - System Information
Windows - System Information
msinfo32.exe has a “System Type” field.
In a command shell:
msinfo32
