Command Prompt\Windows\system32

Question

I see that my Command Prompt says C:\Windows\system32. Now my question is my System type is: 64-bit Operating System?

Answer 1

"The operating system uses the %SystemRoot%\system32 directory for its 64-bit library and executable files. This is done for backward compatibility reasons, as many legacy applications are hardcoded to use that path" - from - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WoW64

Also wow64 ( from an MS article ) "WOW64 is the x86 emulator that allows 32-bit Windows-based applications to run seamlessly on 64-bit Windows." - from  - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/aa384249%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

Answer 2

They are two different things A 64bit Operating System still has the folder system32.

PS, Yes as George below:

It is for Backwards compatibility reasons. A whole lot of applications assume things they shouldn't assume and hard-code paths. And yes, that includes 64-bit applications. On 64-bit Windows the folder system32 actually contains the 64-bit versions of DLLs. For the 32-bit DLLs there is the folder SysWoW64 which is what 32-bit applications see as system32.

Answer 3

If you want to know what system type you have, press +Pause/Break on your keyboard.  Funny that +Break is the way to see system properties when it breaks :)