5

For compatibility and testing, I would like to run a 32-bit version of Windows Explorer on 64-bit Windows Vista. Is this even possible? And if so, how do I do that?

I looked into the System32 folder and it contains the explorer.exe but it appears to be the 64-bit version. Is there another EXE stored in some other location that I can run, one that is 32-bit?

Correction:

The explorer.exe is stored in C:\Windows and not in C:\Windows\System32. That's what I meant.

Update:

Apparently the /separate switch is undocumented. But the /e switch may not be relevant for Windows Vista, only for Windows XP.

Here's what I found:

For Windows Vista this should be enough:

%systemroot%\syswow64\explorer.exe /separate

The /separate switch is required to start explorer.exe as a separate process. Otherwise the 64-bit version is started.

Community
  • 1
Samir
  • 20,527
  • 74
  • 166
  • 226
  • just to be sure, you are talking about the file explorer, not internet explorer? – Keltari Jun 03 '13 at 18:15
  • I did say `explorer.exe` and not `iexplore.exe`. It's called Windows Explorer for a reason. But it's also called File Explorer officially now in Windows 7 or 8 I think. Just rule out Internet Explorer. – Samir Jun 03 '13 at 18:34
  • Can someone please explain or give me a link to some TechNet article or something where `/separete` and `/e` switches are explained. – Samir Jun 03 '13 at 19:11
  • 1
    If you are still interested about the switches, [here is a explanation of them](http://www.geoffchappell.com/studies/windows/shell/explorer/cmdline.htm). – Scott Chamberlain Jun 03 '13 at 20:31

1 Answers1

3

Although I have not personally tested this, it looks like it may be possible:

On my install, I do not have a Explore.exe in System32, only in sysWow64. Perhaps a third party download is required to make sure the application is 32bit in your system32 folder.

Austin T French
  • 10,505
  • 27
  • 42
  • Okay, this worked. But I am given the code `%Systemroot%\SysWOW64\explorer.exe /separate /e, {20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}` and I know that `%systemroot%` is my Windows install directory, and `explorer.exe` is the program. And this is actually the 32-bit version of it. But what do the `separate` and `e` switches do? And what's that last number? – Samir Jun 03 '13 at 19:03
  • That's wrong name. It's called **explorer.exe** and not explore.exe. But yes, you are right about the location. It's in C:\Windows and not in the sub-directory C:\Windows\System32. Also make sure you type it in correctly if you are using the Run prompt, otherwise it will fail and give you an error. – Samir Jun 03 '13 at 19:05
  • 2
    To point some things out, `SysWoW64` contains **32-bit** executables and libraries, for use with Windows-on-Windows (the technology that allows 32-bit apps to run on 64-bit windows). `System32` is a generic system folder, and despite the name, should contain executables and libraries that match the system architecture: **64-bit on W7 x64, and 32-bit on W7 x86**. – Darth Android Jun 03 '13 at 19:36