c++ - windows/System32 or windows/SysWOW64

Question

I have a 32 bit application. How correctly (officially) to find out which folder to install the application, depending on the bit depth of the OS? Are there any winapi commands that would give out the correct path, if i indicating that the application is 32 bit.

windows/System32 or windows/SysWOW64?

In general, how correctly to do, if i'm not want to check if one of this folder exist?

Minimum supported client needed - Windows XP.

Answer 1

You should call SHGetKnownFolderPath supplying FOLDERID_ProgramFiles folder id. It will retrieve correct directory for applications. If you still want to install into system32 (though typical applications should not do it), then you can call it with FOLDERID_SystemX86.