Hi Alvin, Since answering your last question, I've done a good deal of searching, to try and understand this issue a little better. (although my searching skills are probably weak)
This is the top search result, no matter which combination of search terms I use. It only generally addresses my question about the 2 different program directories (at the top, and later goes into the op's specific question re IE).
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-files/programs-fi...
This is the best general explanation I could find, although I don't understand all of the discussion, which gets a little technical in some places.
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_vista-windows_progr...
But the bottom line is that over and over again, I read the Program Files is meant for 64-bit programs and Program Files (x86) is meant for 32-bit programs. I read that generally the distinction is made because Program Files is better equipped to handle programs which use a lot of RAM, and having the 2 separate directories generally helps Windows to work more efficiently.
Maybe the distinction is more and more moot, as the 64-bit type of computers are more common these days? But that's only me trying to make sense of why Inkscape wants to install its 64-bit version in the directory that's meant for 32-bit programs.
My experience follows what I thought was true, that multiple versions of Inkscape can be installed without any problems. But I'm in no position to be able defend whether it really is true or not. Maybe I've just been lucky? (Although it should probably be cleared up, so that I don't continue to provide incorrect info to other users.)
But I still remain curious about the 64-bit version of Inkscape wanting to install itself in the 32-bit directory (x86). I know from experience that RAM is often the limiting factor, when Inkscape drawings become larger and more complex (as opposed to processor or graphics card).
I don't need a very technical explanation. But I'd really appreciate a simple answer :-)
Thank you very much!
-------------------------------------------------- From: "alvinpenner" <penner@...2467...> Sent: Monday, November 28, 2016 5:35 PM To: inkscape-user@lists.sourceforge.net Subject: Re: [Inkscape-user] installing on Windows, 32-bit vs 64-bit
just for curiosity, go to Control Panel->Programs and Features and check to see how many versions of Inkscape are reported there.
Alvin
-- View this message in context: http://inkscape.13.x6.nabble.com/installing-on-Windows-32-bit-vs-64-bit-tp49... Sent from the Inkscape - User mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
Inkscape-user mailing list Inkscape-user@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/inkscape-user