When a 32-bit process tries to update a string value with a new value that contains the %ProgramFiles% string, the %ProgramFiles% string is converted to the %ProgramFiles(x86)% string in a 64-bit environment

Article ID: 960037 - View products that this article applies to.
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SYMPTOMS

You are using a 32-bit process in a 64-bit Windows environment. When the 32-bit process tries to update a string value in the Registry with a new value that contains the %ProgramFiles% string, the %ProgramFiles% string is converted to the %ProgramFiles(x86)% string. This problem occurs in the x64-based versions of the following Microsoft operating systems:
  • Windows Server 2003
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
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CAUSE

When a 32-bit process runs in the Windows 32-bit on Windows 64-bit (WoW64) environment, the environment variables are changed for compatibility. Therefore, when a 32-bit process tries to update a registry entry that has a string value, and the new value contains the %ProgramFiles% string, the %ProgramFiles% string is converted to the %ProgramFiles(x86)% string.
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RESOLUTION

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, it is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Customer Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support
(http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support)
Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must be running Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2, Windows Vista Service Pack 1, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Service Pack 2, or Windows Server 2008.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.
Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2, x64-based versions and Windows XP Professional x64 Edition with Service Pack 2
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File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatformSP requirementService branch
Sysmain.sdbNot applicable19,97222-Nov-200806:06Not applicableSP2Not applicable
Wow64.dll5.2.3790.4415249,85622-Nov-200806:06x64SP2Not applicable
Wsysmain.sdbNot applicable1,370,24422-Nov-200806:06Not applicableSP2WOW
Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 2, Itanium-based versions
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File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatformSP requirementService branch
Sysmain.sdbNot applicable19,61622-Nov-200805:50Not applicableSP2Not applicable
Wow64.dll5.2.3790.4415497,66422-Nov-200805:50IA-64SP2Not applicable
Wsysmain.sdbNot applicable1,370,24422-Nov-200805:51Not applicableSP2WOW
Windows Server 2008, x64-based versions and Windows Vista with Service Pack 1, x64-based versions
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File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatformService branch
Sysmain.sdbNot applicable53,75420-Nov-200804:42Not applicableNot applicable
Ntvdm64.dll6.0.6001.2231316,38420-Nov-200810:10x64AMD64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Wow64.dll6.0.6001.22313234,49620-Nov-200810:10x64AMD64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Wow64cpu.dll6.0.6001.2231317,40820-Nov-200810:10x64AMD64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Wow64win.dll6.0.6001.22313301,56820-Nov-200810:10x64AMD64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Acres.dll6.0.6001.223132,56020-Nov-200806:25x86Not applicable
Sysmain.sdbNot applicable3,267,46220-Nov-200803:56Not applicableNot applicable
Acwow64.dll6.0.6001.2231343,00820-Nov-200808:48x86WOW64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Instnm.exe6.0.6001.223137,68020-Nov-200806:15x86WOW64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Ntvdm64.dll6.0.6001.2231314,33620-Nov-200808:49x86WOW64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Setup16.exe3.1.0.191826,11220-Nov-200808:48x86WOW64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
User.exe6.0.6001.223132,56020-Nov-200806:15x86WOW64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Wow32.dll6.0.6001.223135,12020-Nov-200808:47x86WOW64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Windows Server 2008, Itanium-based versions
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File nameFile versionFile sizeDateTimePlatformService branch
Sysmain.sdbNot applicable51,42220-Nov-200804:58Not applicableNot applicable
Ia32exec.bin6.5.6523.08,257,53605-Feb-200823:12Not applicableIA64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Ntvdm64.dll6.0.6001.2231327,64820-Nov-200810:33IA-64IA64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Wow64.dll6.0.6001.22313523,26420-Nov-200810:37IA-64IA64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Wow64cpu.dll6.0.6001.2231343,00820-Nov-200810:37IA-64IA64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Wow64win.dll6.0.6001.22313617,47220-Nov-200810:37IA-64IA64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Wowia32x.dll6.5.6563.088,57620-Nov-200810:37IA-64IA64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Acres.dll6.0.6001.223132,56020-Nov-200806:25x86Not applicable
Sysmain.sdbNot applicable3,267,46220-Nov-200803:56Not applicableNot applicable
Acwow64.dll6.0.6001.2231343,00820-Nov-200808:48x86WOW64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Instnm.exe6.0.6001.223137,68020-Nov-200806:15x86WOW64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Ntvdm64.dll6.0.6001.2231314,33620-Nov-200808:49x86WOW64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Setup16.exe3.1.0.191826,11220-Nov-200808:48x86WOW64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
User.exe6.0.6001.223132,56020-Nov-200806:15x86WOW64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW
Wow32.dll6.0.6001.223135,12020-Nov-200808:47x86WOW64_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-WOW

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 file information notes

The .manifest files and the .mum files that are installed in each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 and for Windows Vista" section. These files and their associated .cat (security catalog) files are critical to maintaining the state of the updated component. The .cat files are signed with a Microsoft digital signature. The attributes of these security files are not listed.
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STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.
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MORE INFORMATION

The hotfix sets a flag in the process environment block (PEB). Therefore, the WoW64 emulation layer examines this flag before the Wow64 emulation layer redirects the %ProgramFiles% string to the %ProgramFiles(x86)% string.

For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: -
824684
(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824684/ )
Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Additional file information for Windows Server 2008 and for Windows Vista

Additional file information for Windows Vista with Service Pack 1, x64-based versions and for Windows Server 2008, x64-based versions

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File nameAmd64_9e98b6d1a56d4e2f86800d0218ae45f0_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22313_none_2f222e1b4c6084b0.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size1,036
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)18:09
File nameAmd64_e312318caff944a6e1e5e92f6c920085_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22313_none_9e563e0772fadeb1.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size1,100
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)18:09
File nameAmd64_microsoft-windows-a..ence-mitigations-c1_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22313_none_68c2a536c3ccdf11.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size3,311
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)11:12
File nameAmd64_microsoft-windows-wow64_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22313_none_c4c63516a8cfa50d.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size14,803
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)11:11
File namePackage_for_kb960037_client_1~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot applicable
File size1,375
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)18:09
File namePackage_for_kb960037_client~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot applicable
File size1,438
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)18:09
File namePackage_for_kb960037_sc_0~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot applicable
File size1,429
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)18:09
File namePackage_for_kb960037_sc~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot applicable
File size1,431
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)18:09
File namePackage_for_kb960037_server_0~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot applicable
File size1,433
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)18:09
File namePackage_for_kb960037_server~31bf3856ad364e35~amd64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot applicable
File size1,439
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)18:09
File nameWow64_microsoft-windows-a..ence-mitigations-c1_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22313_none_73174f88f82da10c.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size4,111
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)09:34
File nameWow64_microsoft-windows-wow64_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22313_none_cf1adf68dd306708.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size14,040
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)09:34

Additional file information for Windows Server 2008, Itanium-based versions

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File nameIa64_2366aac2c9dde9c1c070792a8a050baf_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22313_none_f28d29efcb26b29b.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size1,098
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)18:09
File nameIa64_f1a9b526b19ef582aa3f9ae378919720_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22313_none_bc72c12231797275.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size1,034
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)18:09
File nameIa64_microsoft-windows-a..ence-mitigations-c1_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22313_none_0ca5ada90b6d76d7.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size3,308
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)12:14
File nameIa64_microsoft-windows-wow64_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22313_none_68a93d88f0703cd3.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size17,489
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)12:14
File namePackage_for_kb960037_sc_0~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot applicable
File size1,425
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)18:09
File namePackage_for_kb960037_sc~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot applicable
File size1,426
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)18:09
File namePackage_for_kb960037_server_0~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot applicable
File size1,429
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)18:09
File namePackage_for_kb960037_server~31bf3856ad364e35~ia64~~6.0.1.0.mum
File versionNot applicable
File size1,434
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)18:09
File nameWow64_microsoft-windows-a..ence-mitigations-c1_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22313_none_73174f88f82da10c.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size4,111
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)09:34
File nameWow64_microsoft-windows-wow64_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6001.22313_none_cf1adf68dd306708.manifest
File versionNot applicable
File size14,040
Date (UTC)20-Nov-2008
Time (UTC)09:34
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REFERENCES

For more information about the WoW64 emulation layer, visit the following Microsoft Web sites:For more information about how to access an alternate registry view, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa384129(VS.85).aspx
(http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa384129(VS.85).aspx)
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Properties

Article ID: 960037 - Last Review: October 8, 2011 - Revision: 2.0
APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter x64 Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition for Itanium-Based Systems
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition
  • Windows Server 2008 Standard
  • Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
  • Windows Server 2008 Datacenter
  • Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition
Keywords: 
kbexpertiseadvanced kbfix kbautohotfix kbsurveynew kbqfe KB960037
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