rundll32.exe info

What can I use instead of rundll32.exe to run 64-bit DLL?

There are two versions of the rundll32.exe program in 64-bit versions of Windows-family operating systems:
64-bit version: %WinDir% \System32\rundll32.exe
32-bit version: %WinDir% \SysWOW64\rundll32.exe
A 64-bit application can use the 64-bit version of rundll32.exe located in %WinDir% \System32\ to load 64-bit DLL. But 32-bit programs addressing %WinDir%\System32\ are redirected into %WinDir% \SysWOW64\ for compatibility purposes and therefore they will use the 32-bit version of rundll32.exe.
If you need to address the %WinDir%\System32 folder from a 32-bit program launched in a 64-bit Windows, you may use the virtual directory %windir%\Sysnative (redirection is not used for it) or use the Wow64DisableWow64FsRedirection function to disable the redirection mechanism.

References

• Discussion at stackoverflow.com. rundll32.exe equivalent for 64-bit DLLs.
• MSDN Library. File System Redirector.

Windows 7: 64 bit or 32 bit?

32-bit and 64-bit Windows: frequently asked questions

64-bit versions of Windows are for computer users who have high-performance needs and are typically running a computer with 4 GB or more of random access memory.
Put simply, a 64-bit PC can handle larger amounts of information than a 32-bit system. Since it can use more RAM—4 GB and up—a 64-bit computer can be more responsive when you're running lots of programs at once.
Both 32-bit and 64-bit installation discs are included in the Windows 7 retail box.
Most 64-bit operating systems can handle large amounts of memory—typically 4 gigabytes (GB) of random access memory (RAM) or more—more efficiently than 32-bit operating systems. However, not all computers are 64-bit capable.
All packaged retail editions of Windows 7 (except for Home Basic) include both 32- and 64-bit software.

Windows Vista Compatibility Center
Windows 7 Compatibility Center
All Windows Help & How-to
Windows 7 Help & How-to

La versión Release Candidate caducará el 1 de junio de 2010. A contar del 1 de marzo de 2010, el equipo comenzará a apagarse cada dos horas. Windows le notificará dos semanas antes de que comiencen estos apagados. Para evitar la interrupción, tendrá que instalar antes del 1 de marzo de 2010 una versión de Windows que no caduque. También tendrá que instalar los programas y los datos que desee usar. (Obtenga más información acerca de la instalación de Windows).

Windows 7 system requirements

• 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processor

• 1 gigabyte (GB) RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)

• 16 GB available hard disk space (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)

• DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM 1.0 or higher driver

• Windows XP Mode requires an additional 1 GB of RAM, an additional 15 GB of available hard disk space, and a processor capable of hardware virtualization with Intel VT or AMD-V turned on
  To download Windows XP Mode or learn about its system requirements, visit the Windows Virtual PC website. Works only with Windows 7 Professional and Ultimate.

Installing Windows
The following topics contain information about upgrading and installing Windows 7—including procedures, best practices, and the difference between performing an upgrade and doing a custom (or clean) installation of Windows.
Download the Windows 7 Release Candidate

• Installing and reinstalling Windows

• Installing Windows: frequently asked questions

• 32-bit and 64-bit Windows: FAQ

• Install more than one operating system (multiboot)

• Windows installation problems FAQ
  

• Uninstall Windows 7 on a multiboot system.

More

• See if my PC can run Windows 7

• Installing Windows 7

• Installing new hardware

• Security checklist

• Personalize your PC

• Make older programs run in Windows7

• More…

• Getting Ready for Windows 7 Forum
• Uninstalling Windows 7 RC
• What happened to Windows Mail?

32 bit OS or 64 bit OS?

Source

Follow the steps to determine the bit count of your operating system.
Windows Vista
Method 1: View System window in Control Panel
1. Click Start, type system in the Start Search box
and then click System in the Programs list.
2. The operating system is displayed as follows:

• For a 64-bit version operating system:
  64-bit Operating System appears for the System type under System.
• For a 32-bit version operating system:
  32-bit Operating System appears for the System type under System.

Method 2: View System Information window
1. Click Start, type system in the Start Search box, and then click System Information in the Programs list.
2. When System Summary is selected in the navigation pane, the operating system is displayed as follows:

• For a 64-bit version operating system:
  x64-based PC appears for the System type under Item.
• For a 32-bit version operating system:
  x86-based PC appears for the System type under Item.

Windows XP
Method 1: View System Properties in Control Panel
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
3. Click the General tab. The operating system is displayed as follows:

• For a 64-bit version operating system:
  Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Version < Year> appears under System.
• For a 32-bit version operating system:
  Windows XP Professional Version < Year> appears under System.

Note <Year> is a placeholder for year.
Method 2: View System Information window
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type winmsd.exe, and then click OK.
3. When System Summary is selected in the navigation pane, the operating system is displayed as follows:

• For a 64-bit version operating system:
  x64-based PC appears for the System Type under Item.
• For a 32-bit version operating system:
  X86-based PC appears for the System Type under Item.

64 bit M$ operating systems

Source
Benefits

• The additional computing power,
• the additional security and
• obviously the benefits of breaking the 4Gb memory barrier

So what could still stop you from going 64 bit?
There’s no doubt that 64 bit is better but the problems standing against people who want to upgrade include…

• Driver support – Less of an issue for newer hardware, but some hardware vendors still don’t have 64-bit driver support for their products and, sadly, many people only find this out after they’ve installed a 64-bit OS.
• Firewall support – There is still no free stand-alone firewall that runs on a 64-bit version of Windows. Why? Currently if you want anything other than the standard Windows firewall these companies will force you to buy their not-really-worth-the-money security suites.
• Software support – Apple were late to come to market with a 64-bit version of iTunes and they’re not alone. There’s still a lot of software that won’t run on a 64-bit OS.
• Run the 64-bit version of Internet Explorer (for better stability and security) and visit YouTube, or any other website running on Adobe Flash. You’ll receive a message saying that there’s STILL no 64-bit version of the Flash player.

Drivers support, software use more than 4GB of memory and multiple core CPU’s are key to 64 bit OSes (of Micro$oft) going mainstream.

32-bit or 64-bit processor?

How to determine if your system contains a 32-bit or 64-bit processor.
1.  On the Start menu:
   1a. For Windows* 2000, select Settings and then
       select Control Panel.
   1b. For Windows* XP or later operating systems,
       select Control Panel.
   1c. Open the 'System' applet (you may first have to
       select 'Switch to Classic View').
2.  Select the 'Hardware' tab.
3.  Select the 'Device Manager' button.
4.  The processor type will be indicated by the value under
   the 'Computer' section on the 'General' tab.

32-bit Windows or 64-bit Windows?

Source
The Microsoft® Windows® Malicious Software Removal Tool is different for 32-bit Windows and 64-bit Windows. Here is how to tell which you are on.

Vista

Option A: Control Panel

1. Click Start, type system in the Start Search box, and then click system in the Programs list.
2. Either 64-bit Operating System or 32-bit Operating System appears for the System type under System.

Option B: System Information Window

1. Click Start type system in the Start Search box, and then click System Information in the Programs list.
2. Select System Summary in the navigation pane; either x64-based PC or x86-based PC appears for the System type under Item.  x86 is the 32-bit system.
   

Windows XP

Option A: View System Properties in Control Panel

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
3. Click the General tab. Under System, if you see Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Version you have a 64-bit system.  If you see only Microsoft Windows XP Professional Version it is the 32-bit system.

Option B: View System Information window

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type winmsd.exe, and then click OK.
3. Select the System Summary in the navigation pane.
4. Locate Processor under Item in the details pane.
   • If Processor value starts with x86, it is the 32-bit system.
     
   • If Processor value starts with ia64 or AMD64,it is the 64-bit system.
     

Windows Server 2003

Option A: View System Properties in Control Panel

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
3. Click the General tab. Under System, if you see ;Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise x64 Edition you have a 64-bit system.  If you see only Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition it is the 32-bit system.

Option B: View System Information window

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. Type winmsd.exe, and then click OK.
3. Select the System Summary in the navigation pane.
4. Locate Processor under Item in the details pane.
   • If Processor value starts with x86, it is the 32-bit system.
     
   • If Processor value starts with ia64 or AMD64,it is the 64-bit system.