Windows – How to tell if a Windows application requires 64-bit

64-bitwindows

In 64-bit Windows versions, is there a way I can tell if an executable requires 64-bit to launch?

I'm looking for a better way than Process Explorer to find out, preferrably BEFORE launching.

EDIT:
So how would I know that an application requires Win64 environment?

Best Answer

The processor architecture flag in the header of an EXE or DLL will tell you. The PEDUMP utility (http://www.wheaty.net/downloads.htm) will dump that entry. In the "File Header" section, look at "Machine". The i386 (32-bit Intel) flag is 0x014c. The 64-bit x86 flag is 0x8664.

See also: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/197951/how-can-i-determine-for-which-platform-an-executable-is-compiled/198009