HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Wow6432Node\Classes vs HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Wow6432Node

Question

The question is very simple, what's the difference between HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Wow6432Node\Classes and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Wow6432Node?

Answer 1

I'm not sure, but I can tell you that my Windows 7 x64 machine only has the latter one. I do have HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Wow6432Node\, but Classes doesn't exist inside that for me.

Answer 2

The reason for the "Wow6432Node" reg key and the other key, is that on modern 64 bit machines we still run alot of 32-bit apps. Microsoft knowing this, has allsorts of mirroing, and spoofing schemes within the registry to sort it all out. Usually this works to your advantage.

Say you are trying to register som component to the registry in code. All you need to do is try to put your entries into the key(reg path) you think you want. The registry will take that request and deal with it (propably putting it into the Wow6432Node sub-directory).

In other words, 99% of the time ignor 'Wow6432Node'. Especially if you are registering things to the registry from code. If you manually include 'Wow6432Node' in your path, then your app will only work right on 64-bit machines - which are the only ones who use that reg path.)

SUMMARY: Its where windows puts your 32-bit stuff on a 64-bit machine!!!!!