Even in a 64 bit OS 32 bit software will see it as a 32 bit OS.
Such software may behave badly or fail entirely if the OS or CPU were to identify itself as anything other than 32 bit. There is much older 32 bit software that was written before the availability of 64 bit operating systems and has zero 64 bit awareness. This is all done for compatibility reasons. Only when running a 64 bit OS is it's true nature revealed. Software must do some very specific things to reveal the CPUs 64 bit capabilities. The CPU will even identify itself as 32 bit. In this mode it is for all practical purposes a 32 bit CPU with all 64 bit capabilities locked out. To run 32 bit Windows it must be in 32 bit mode.
This was not intended to show 64 bit capability.Ī CPU capable of running 64 bit Windows has 2 modes, 32 bit mode and 64 bit mode. And for most practical purposes that is what it is. When running 32 bit Windows the 'System Type' field in the System Information utility will always identify as 'X86-based PC', even with the latest computers which are fully 64 bit capable.
