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32-bit aRD not launching Ext. Apps on 64-bit OS
#1
Is there a 64-bit install of ASG Remote Desktop?

The cmd.exe that's run from aRD seems to always be 32-bit since the application is 32-bit. However, this prevents it from being able to run certain native programs that are only 64-bit on a host machine. For example, I was trying to get kondrich's Terminal Sessions Ext. Application suggestion working on my setup. The definition settings are pretty simple:
  • File name = "cmd.exe"
  • Arguments = "/K qwinsta.exe /server:%computername%"
However, ASG Remote Desktop cannot locate qwinsta.exe. The reason for that is that qwinsta.exe only exists as a 64-bit application in the system32 folder, and there is no 32-bit qwinsta.exe in the SysWow64 folder.

I've tried getting aRD to run the 64-bit cmd from the c:\windows\system32 folder, but it always runs the 32-bit version in the SysWOW64 folder.

Help!

Tom
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#2
I tried with Win10 - set file name to "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cmd.exe" and working folder to "C:\Windows\SysWOW64" - and when I run it I can see in TaskManager that it runs as 32bit application
Regards/Gruss
Oliver
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#3
Hi Oliver,

Yes, that makes sense, but I need the 64-bit command prompt to run, not the 32-bit. I've found a work-around. %systemroot%\sysnative\cmd.exe will invoke a 64-bit cmd on a 64-bit Windows, and a 32-bit cmd on a 32-bit windows. If ARD was a native 64-bit application, this would not be needed.

I discovered the "fix" only after typing a full explanation of the problem. If you want to see it, read on ...

If you run a 32-bit cmd.exe and do a directory on the %windir%\system32 folder, you will get a very different listing than if you run a 64-bit cmd.exe. Try it sometime. Windows works its magic behind the scenes, substituting the appropriate folder (system32 vs syswow64) depending on whether the program is 64-bit or not. In my case, I'm running a 64-bit OS, and qwinsta.exe is a 64-bit executable. Here's some output to help demonstrate:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright © 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

U:\>dir c:\windows\system32\qw*.*
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 1484-8F1F

Directory of c:\windows\system32

07/13/2009 07:41 PM 242,688 qwave.dll
07/13/2009 07:39 PM 28,672 qwinsta.exe

2 File(s) 271,360 bytes
0 Dir(s) 168,462,430,208 bytes free

U:\>c:\windows\syswow64\cmd
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright © 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

U:\>dir c:\windows\system32\qw*.*
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 1484-8F1F

Directory of c:\windows\system32

07/13/2009 07:16 PM 210,944 qwave.dll
1 File(s) 210,944 bytes
0 Dir(s) 168,462,430,208 bytes free

U:\>

The command window is initially a 64-bit application, so the directory listing of c:\windows\system32 shows all the 64-bit versions of the files. When I run the c:\windows\syswow64\cmd command, the command windows runs a 32-bit command prompt, so the directory listing of c:\windows\system32 shows only 32-bit versions of the files. Notice how qwave.dll is a different size, and there is no qwinsta.exe since it only exists as a 64-bit application.

I came up with a kludge of copying the 64-bit cmd.exe into an alternate folder and calling that, but then discovered the "sysnative" folder.
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#4
I can confirm this issue. I just wanted to create a thread for this, but a search found this one. ;-)

ASG RD is 32-bit and hence it launches a 32-bit cmd.exe, even if the path is set to C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe.
However, @Bulldogian's workaround using %systemroot%\sysnative\cmd.exe is working for me on a Windows 10 64-bit box.

IMHO, every application should be available as a native 64 bit application nowadays.
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#5
There are still a lot of apps that do not run in native 64bit mode - we would like to offer this, but we still are using components that are not available for 64bit :-(
Regards/Gruss
Oliver
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#6
PuTTY was just released as version 0.68 with a x64 build. One app less that is just available as a 32bit version.
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