Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles value for a 32-bit application on Windows 7?

Question

What would a 32-bit application running on Windows 7 return for the below?

Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles)

C:\Program Files (x86) or C:\Program Files?

Florenceflorencia

This might be useful also (another SO question). – Buntline

I think this assumes an English version of Windows. – Microcyte

Do you want the path from a 32bit process file system view or a 64bit process (e.g. Windows Explorer)'s file system view? – Grain

Answer 1

On 32 bit Windows 7 you should get "C:\Program Files", on 64 bit "C:\Program Files (x86)".

Nausea

Can we by any means get the path C:\Program Files (x86) instead of C:\Program Files? – Florenceflorencia

There's no need for the added "x86" on 32 bit systems. If you'd like to get the x86 path even while running a 64 bit app on a 64 bit system, request Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFilesX86 instead. – Nausea

That is not fully true - it depends on the bitness of the process ... SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles in an x86 build on an x64 os gives you C:\Program Files (x86) – Sheliasheline

Answer 2

It doesn't matter what it returns. Either value will map to the same folder, file system virtualization will always map it to (x86) for a 32-bit app.

Hamon

Answer 3

Well I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit so I wanted to know for sure what was returned, so I put this into a console application to see what was returned

Console.WriteLine(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ProgramFiles));

And it returned C:\Program Files

Bridgework

Answer 4

C:\Program Files (x86)

Cratch

Answer 5

"C:\Program Files (x86)"

Messmate