The Answer So You Can Sleep At Night
Why does 64-bit Windows need two "Program Files" folders: Program Files and Program Files (x86)?
Although Windows XP also had a 64-bit version, consumers didn't really have to decide whether to buy the 32- or 64-bit version until Microsoft released Windows Vista.
Windows 7/8/10 also comes in 32-bit and 64-bit versions and if you have opted for the 64-bit version, you might have noticed that there are two Program Files folders on your hard drive. Read on to find out the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit Windows and why the operating system needs two separate folders to store program data.
The real difference between Windows 32 and 64-bit has to do with how much memory the operating system can address. “Address” simply means “to keep track of.”
