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I have Windows 8 64-bit.

I run Autoruns (latest version) and it states 3 DLLs which are not found:

enter image description here

Question

Is it safe to delete those entries with Autoruns?

3
  • Why do you want to delete required system files? wow64.dll allows you to run 32-bit software.
    – Ramhound
    Oct 1, 2013 at 11:31
  • @Ramhound I dont want. autoruns want. it says they are not there
    – Royi Namir
    Oct 1, 2013 at 11:33
  • You asked if its safe to delete those files, its not safe, the registry key might be pointing to the wrong location but thats another question.
    – Ramhound
    Oct 1, 2013 at 11:38

2 Answers 2

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That's a windows Black Magic (TM): http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-performance/wow64dll-wow64cpudll-wow64windll-files-not-found/837ba758-ad0a-4bc3-b227-62046f7e198d?msgId=762f85e0-f11f-481b-a0e8-b92971acf422

Don't be concerned if autoruns reports these files as not found. Just ignore it. These three files are critical to (and invisible to) 32-bit processes running on a 64-bit processor.

For a little fun you can see this by launching both the native and x86 versions of Windows PowerShell, type the following in both. Somewhat surprisingly you'll get different results:

cd $env:windir\system32
dir wow*
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  • holly shi* , in powershell i do see those files. while in pure cmd - i don't. why is that ?
    – Royi Namir
    Oct 2, 2013 at 6:13
  • 1
    Because they are not there. The systems transparently 'shows' this files in desired location depending whether the app is 32-bit or 64-bit.
    – kworr
    Oct 2, 2013 at 8:08
3

It is not safe to delete those dll files. Those listed files supports 32 bit applications running in 64 bit machine.Instead of deleting dll files try to register dll by typing
regsvr32 /s wow64win.dll in command propmt with administrator privillege

2
  • the files are not in file system !
    – Royi Namir
    Oct 1, 2013 at 12:52
  • Run a file system scan by typing SFC /SCANNOW in command propmt. also do a check for those dll in system32 folder by going to system 32 folder from a command line and then type dir wow* Oct 1, 2013 at 13:16

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