Installing a 64-bit executable file to Program Files

The 64-bit revolution has come and gone. If you're still writing 32-bit applications, you should make the switch if you can. Modern Windows operating systems have full support for it, but for end users to see the benefits, the software needs to be updated to take advantage. The 64-bit programs have the potential for increased performance, better parallel processing, and improved security. See the Technet article at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd630755%28v=office.12%29.aspx for more information.

Once the decision has been made to convert software to 64 bits, the next step is ensuring it's installed to the correct Program Files folder and that our installer identifies itself as being compatible with the 64-bit architecture. In this recipe, we will build a console application that targets the x64 platform and then include it in an MSI package that supports it.

Getting ready

To prepare for this recipe, perform the following...