FreeCommander

Comments on FreeCommander XE 32-bit version.

Like all 32-bit programs on Windows x64, FreeCommander is subject to the following restrictions:

• 32-bit programs are not able to display the control panel.
• 32-bit programs show different contents for the folder "%windir%\system32" and its subfolders.
  Notes:
• %windir% is a system variable that points to the Windows install folder - often: c:\Windows
• 32-bit programs are redirected from "%windir%\system32" to "%windir%\SysWOW64" automatically.
  For more detailed information see: Microsoft: File system redirector

Solutions

From Windows Vista x64 on, "Sysnative" is a hidden alias for the genuine "System32" folder.

So to access the genuine "%windir%\system32" folder, "%windir%\sysnative" can be used.

Under the menu item "Favorites → Favorites edit..." a new favorite can be added, with "%windir%\sysnative" in the input field "active panel".

Another possibility is a symbolic link. Automatic redirection of folders is not active for 32-bit programs if the program accesses the folder via a symbolic link. So it is sufficient to define a symbolic link for the folder "%windir%\system32" to access the genuine "%windir%\system32" folder. 

Example:

• Navigate to the folder "c:\windows" in FreeCommander
• Activate the menu item "Tools → DOS box..." while pressing and holding the shift key at the same time
• Confirm "User Account Control"
• A DOS box is opened with the folder "c:\windows\system32"
• Create the symbolic link: mklink /J "symlink_System32" "c:\windows\system32"
• It is now possible to navigate to the genuine "c:\windows\system32" folder via the symbolic link "symlink_System32"

Warning!

Symbolic links should be used only by experienced users.