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In Windows 7, can't copy files to system32, goes to sysWOW64 instead

Anonymous
2011-07-03T18:49:28+00:00

Somehow i can't copy file to system32 but instead the file go to sysWOW64, i've used windows 7 64bit, i hope someone can resolve this problem. thanks

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-07-03T19:20:53+00:00

    Why/what are you trying to copy a file to System32?

    System32 (as the name implies) is a system folder that is protected by Windows Resource Protection. You should not normally be messing with it unless you have good reason.

    SysWOW64 is a folder that acts an "emulator" to allow 32-Bit programs to run on a 64-Bit version of Windows 7. Again, you shouldn't normally be messing with it.

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-06-07T18:08:54+00:00

    First of all it should't be any of your consern what or why someone is trying to copy a file into system32 folder or any file anywhere for that matter.Its called privacy.Second,if microsoft team wasn't incompetent as they are,they would be able to create a windows platform that actually works and then people wouldn't have the need to edit system files and folders.For instance,my inovative,awesome,genius windows 7 that is made only to look good (and it even doesn't look good) crashed when I installed windows updates.Now I have to reinstall the system because automatic system repair doesn't work...imagine that,yet another briliant microsoft feature that exists only to be said that it is there and does absolutely nothing.And I don't even want to mention windows 10...So,as I want to bypass a "failed to run directx 11" error I need to copy a certain file into system32 folder.I've taken ownership,but guess what?*gasp*I still can't copy it as when I set permissions for that folder to full control I still get a mesage that I couldn't take control over system32 folder.I can see that ownership feature is also working properly,good job.So now I'm stuck because for some reason microsoft team tryed to act smart and restrict users from that folder even if they own the computer and system.Microsoft should just return to windows 98 and upgrade it(not the way they've "upgraded" to win7,8 and 10,but actually upgrade it),at least it was working properly,didn't crash for unknown reasons and didn't have "unexpected errors" to recover from.And please post a valid,true way to unlock system32 folder completely.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-07-04T09:03:42+00:00

    I'm still not clear what you are trying to do - please explain fully what you are trying to acheive.

    Theme packs downloaded from Microsoft are stored in:

    *C:\Users<username>\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Themes*

    Windows and some other applications store them elsewhere - just do a search for *.theme.

    Dynamic Link Libraries (*.dll) are stored in System32 and elsewhere.

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-07-04T07:38:24+00:00

    I want to change my themes, this file (imageres.dll and shell32.dll) should be copy in System32 but i can't copy that file instead this go to sysWOW64, So do you know what should i do with this problem....

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  4. @CmdrKeene 90,616 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2011-07-04T02:26:50+00:00

    Agreed. You're going to cause significant issues if you try to copy a file to this location.  What are you trying to accomplish?

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