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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.

Management

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

How to get the architecture and word size

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

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

Windows Processor Architecture Registry

System Information

Windows - System Information

msinfo32.exe has a “System Type” field.

In a command shell:

msinfo32

Msinfo System Type