Why is SysWOW64 reported as System32?

Question

I am testing a windows service. The service code fails when it tries to delete a read-only file that I created in %windir%\SysWOW64 , but a logged exception:

Access to the path "C: \ Windows \ system32 \ CanvasImages \ 62230.jpg" is denied.

I know that 64-bit Windows has a lot of tricks regarding these two folders, and a little understanding of them, but some exact information about the exception will be nice.

Answer 1

This is a bit confusing, but SysWOW64 is actually a 32-bit emulator for 64-bit systems.

WOW means “Windows on Windows,” and the original SysWOW was a 16-bit emulator for 32-bit Windows (and should be called SysWOW32). Thus, SysWOW64 is a 32-bit emulator for 64-bit Windows.

Thus, when running 32-bit applications, it uses SysWOW64 to emulate the 32-bit registry and 32-bit redirection (for example, for program files (x86)).