Detect whether current Windows version is 32 bit or 64 bit

Question

Believe it or not, my installer is so old that it doesn\'t have an option to detect the 64-bit version of Windows.

Is there a Windows DLL call or (even better) an en

Answer 1

A lot of answers mention calling IsWoW64Process() or related functions. This is not the correct way. You should use GetNativeSystemInfo() which was designed for this purpose. Here's an example:

SYSTEM_INFO info;
GetNativeSystemInfo(&info);

if (info.wProcessorArchitecture == PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE_AMD64) {
  // It's a 64-bit OS
}

Also see: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms724340%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

Answer 2

Using Windows Powershell, if the following expression returns true, then it's a 64 bit OS:

(([Array](Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Processor | Select-Object AddressWidth))[0].AddressWidth -eq 64)

This was taken and modified from: http://depsharee.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-do-detect-operating-system.html (Method #3). I've tested this on Win7 64 bit (in both 32 and 64 bit PowerShell sessions), and XP 32 bit.

Answer 3

Interestingly, if I use

get-wmiobject -class Win32_Environment -filter "Name='PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE'"

I get AMD64 in both 32-bit and 64-bit ISE (on Win7 64-bit).

Answer 4

I know this is ancient but, here's what I use to detect Win764

On Error Resume Next

Set objWSHShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

strWinVer = objWSHShell.RegRead("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\BuildLabEx")

If len(strWinVer) > 0 Then
    arrWinVer = Split(strWinVer,".")
    strWinVer = arrWinVer(2)
End If

Select Case strWinVer
Case "x86fre"
strWinVer = "Win7"
Case "amd64fre"
    strWinVer = "Win7 64-bit"
Case Else
    objWSHShell.Popup("OS Not Recognized")
    WScript.Quit
End Select

Answer 5

I want to add what I use in shell scripts (but can easily be used in any language) here. The reason is, that some of the solutions here don't work an WoW64, some use things not really meant for that (checking if there is a *(x86) folder) or don't work in cmd scripts. I feel, this is the "proper" way to do it, and should be safe even in future versions of Windows.

 @echo off
 if /i %processor_architecture%==AMD64 GOTO AMD64
 if /i %PROCESSOR_ARCHITEW6432%==AMD64 GOTO AMD64
    rem only defined in WoW64 processes
 if /i %processor_architecture%==x86 GOTO x86
 GOTO ERR
 :AMD64
    rem do amd64 stuff
 GOTO EXEC
 :x86
    rem do x86 stuff
 GOTO EXEC
 :EXEC
    rem do arch independent stuff
 GOTO END
 :ERR
    rem I feel there should always be a proper error-path!
    @echo Unsupported architecture!
    pause
 :END

Answer 6

I tested the solution I suggested in my question:

Tested for Windows Environment Variable: ProgramW6432

If it's non empty then it's 64 bit Windows.W