64-bit vs. 32-bit

Warren Young warren@etr-usa.com
Fri Apr 25 21:44:00 GMT 2014


On 4/25/2014 11:26, Tom Szczesny wrote:
>
> CYGWIN_NT-6.1-WOW64

"WOW64" means 32-bit Windows emulated on top of 64-bit Windows.[1]  This 
tells you that Cygwin is running inside that 32-bit environment.

> If I did install the 64-bit version, when I rebuild my Linux app on
> Cygwin, do I automatically get a 64-bit executable (that will not run
> on a 32-bit Windows computer)?

You actually have to go out of your way to get a 32-bit executable when 
running 64-bit Cygwin, and vice versa.  So yes, if you install 64-bit 
Cygwin, you don't have to worry about accidentally getting 32-bit 
executables.

You don't have to guess and hope, though.  From 32-bit Cygwin:

     $ file /bin/ls
     /bin/ls: PE32 executable (console) Intel 80386 (stripped to 
external PDB), for MS Windows

     $ file /cygdrive/c/cygwin64/bin/ls
     /cygdrive/c/cygwin64/bin/ls: PE32+ executable (console) x86-64, for 
MS Windows

file(1) saith sooth what what form of executable thou hast wrought.

You might also find this piece enlightening: http://goo.gl/qv5ki7



[1] http://goo.gl/uGmKYv

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