Curious questions regarding 64-bit apps on a W2K8 64-bit server

I got a DELL 64-bit server that I am configuring with W2K8 Standard 64-bit.
I've got plenty of disk space and made my C: partition 60GB. I noticed by
default W2K8 created a C:|Program Files and a C:\Program Files (x86)
directories. Pretty much self explainatory. When I load 64-bit apps by
default the install directory points to C:\Program Files I assume because it
recognizes the application as being a 64-bit app. On the other hand when I
load a 32-bit application be default the install directory points to
C:\Program Files (x86).
So my question is are 64-bit applications required to be installed in the
C:\Program Files directory in order for it to be recognmized and run as a
64-bit app or can I create and install all my 64-bit and 32-bit applications
on a different partiton such as D:\Program Files for 64-bit apps and
D:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit apps?

 

It was always and still is possible to install apps in a folder of your
choice, even on another volume.
Program Files and Program Files (x86) is just a matter of Microsoft's
default setting and recommendation.

BTW, on 64-bit OS, 32-bit apps work in a WOW64 subsystem. Architecture of
the app is not recognized by it's placement, but by it's internal structure
(headers, libraries it uses etc).

Summary,
Unless you have a good reason to place an app in a different place, leave
the default placement.

"AllenM" <noemail@bogus.com> wrote in message
news:%23PFVa8t3JHA.480@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>I got a DELL 64-bit server that I am configuring with W2K8 Standard 64-bit.
>I've got plenty of disk space and made my C: partition 60GB. I noticed by
>default W2K8 created a C:|Program Files and a C:\Program Files (x86)
>directories. Pretty much self explainatory. When I load 64-bit apps by
>default the install directory points to C:\Program Files I assume because
>it recognizes the application as being a 64-bit app. On the other hand when
>I load a 32-bit application be default the install directory points to
>C:\Program Files (x86).
> So my question is are 64-bit applications required to be installed in the
> C:\Program Files directory in order for it to be recognmized and run as a
> 64-bit app or can I create and install all my 64-bit and 32-bit
> applications on a different partiton such as D:\Program Files for 64-bit
> apps and D:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit apps?
>

 

Dusko thanks for your input. I kind of knew the reasoning for the 2 default
Program Files and Program Files (x86) directories was to seperate 64-bit and
32-bit apps. My main concern was whether or not the program files folders
had to be used on the OS (C volume only and if not then I could create the
2 folders on a different partition such as the D: drive.

"Dusko Savatovic" <nospam.savatovic@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:%233vPBl23JHA.480@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> It was always and still is possible to install apps in a folder of your
> choice, even on another volume.
> Program Files and Program Files (x86) is just a matter of Microsoft's
> default setting and recommendation.
>
> BTW, on 64-bit OS, 32-bit apps work in a WOW64 subsystem. Architecture of
> the app is not recognized by it's placement, but by it's internal
> structure (headers, libraries it uses etc).
>
> Summary,
> Unless you have a good reason to place an app in a different place, leave
> the default placement.
>
> "AllenM" <noemail@bogus.com> wrote in message
> news:%23PFVa8t3JHA.480@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>I got a DELL 64-bit server that I am configuring with W2K8 Standard
>>64-bit. I've got plenty of disk space and made my C: partition 60GB. I
>>noticed by default W2K8 created a C:|Program Files and a C:\Program Files
>>(x86) directories. Pretty much self explainatory. When I load 64-bit apps
>>by default the install directory points to C:\Program Files I assume
>>because it recognizes the application as being a 64-bit app. On the other
>>hand when I load a 32-bit application be default the install directory
>>points to C:\Program Files (x86).
>> So my question is are 64-bit applications required to be installed in the
>> C:\Program Files directory in order for it to be recognmized and run as a
>> 64-bit app or can I create and install all my 64-bit and 32-bit
>> applications on a different partiton such as D:\Program Files for 64-bit
>> apps and D:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit apps?
>>
>

 

Yes, you can create folders on a different drive (for example D. You can
even name them the same (Program Files and Program Files (x86)), although I
would choose a different name. I'd choose a different name if I'd like to
install another OS in the second volume (Win2008R2 or Win7). In that case,
my new OS would have a slight problem because default names already exist.
I'd just create one folder named 'Programs' on D: and when installing new
software, I'd point the installer to that location.


"AllenM" <noemail@bogus.com> wrote in message
news:OUBwNu63JHA.140@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Dusko thanks for your input. I kind of knew the reasoning for the 2
> default Program Files and Program Files (x86) directories was to seperate
> 64-bit and 32-bit apps. My main concern was whether or not the program
> files folders had to be used on the OS (C volume only and if not then I
> could create the 2 folders on a different partition such as the D: drive.
>
> "Dusko Savatovic" <nospam.savatovic@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:%233vPBl23JHA.480@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> It was always and still is possible to install apps in a folder of your
>> choice, even on another volume.
>> Program Files and Program Files (x86) is just a matter of Microsoft's
>> default setting and recommendation.
>>
>> BTW, on 64-bit OS, 32-bit apps work in a WOW64 subsystem. Architecture of
>> the app is not recognized by it's placement, but by it's internal
>> structure (headers, libraries it uses etc).
>>
>> Summary,
>> Unless you have a good reason to place an app in a different place, leave
>> the default placement.
>>
>> "AllenM" <noemail@bogus.com> wrote in message
>> news:%23PFVa8t3JHA.480@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>I got a DELL 64-bit server that I am configuring with W2K8 Standard
>>>64-bit. I've got plenty of disk space and made my C: partition 60GB. I
>>>noticed by default W2K8 created a C:|Program Files and a C:\Program Files
>>>(x86) directories. Pretty much self explainatory. When I load 64-bit apps
>>>by default the install directory points to C:\Program Files I assume
>>>because it recognizes the application as being a 64-bit app. On the other
>>>hand when I load a 32-bit application be default the install directory
>>>points to C:\Program Files (x86).
>>> So my question is are 64-bit applications required to be installed in
>>> the C:\Program Files directory in order for it to be recognmized and run
>>> as a 64-bit app or can I create and install all my 64-bit and 32-bit
>>> applications on a different partiton such as D:\Program Files for 64-bit
>>> apps and D:\Program Files (x86) for 32-bit apps?
>>>
>>
>
>