Best Practices for WOW64

Updated: June 17, 2010

File name: WOW64_bestprac.docx
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The PC industry is gradually transitioning from an installed base of primarily 32-bit systems to one of primarily 64-bit systems. In the interim, many application developers will continue to build 32-bit versions of their applications or will provide both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. To ease the effort that is involved in porting applications and to help encourage adoption of 64-bit computing, Microsoft provides Windows 32-bit On Windows 64-bit (WOW64), an emulation layer that enables 32 bit Windows-based applications to run seamlessly on 64-bit Windows. This paper defines best practices for building applications that run on WOW64.

This information applies to 64-bit editions of the following operating systems:
Windows 7
Windows Server 2008 R2
Windows Server 2008
Windows Vista
Windows Server 2003
Windows XP

What's New:

• Corrected typos in sample code

• Added information about Sysnative path forms, references to files and variables, DLL binding, and sample code.

Included in this paper:

• Limitations of WOW64

• Registry Redirection and Registry Reflection

• File System Redirection

• Application Installation and Startup

• Kernel-Mode Drivers

• Best Practices