If you use a 32 bit application as file manager, you have only access to the 32 bit system directory which is camouflaged as "Windows\system32" to a 32 bit application, but instead is "Windows\SysWOW64" in the file system under a 64 bit Windows OS. You need to use a 64 bit application as file manager to have access to both locations if you have a 64 bit Windows OS.
Being old enough to have used the Norton Commander during the DOS era, I still enjoy the
Far manager. It is abailable as both 32 bit and 64 bit application.
Once again for a clarification:
a) You have a
32-bit version of Windows (usual up to Windows 7, later deprecated):
- Windows\system32 is your system directory for 32 bit DLLs and tools.
b) You have a
64-bit version of Windows (most probable from Windows 8 on, although already available earlier):
- Windows\system32 is your system directory for 64 bit DLLs and tools. Only 64 bit applications will see this directory at all. It is hidden from 32 bit applications.
- Windows\SysWOW64 is your system directory for 32 bit DLLs and tools. Only 64 bit applications will see this directory with this name. 32 bit applications will see this with the fake name Windows\system32.
This technique will ensure that each kind of application (32 or 64 bit) will look for their matching system DLLs always in a directory named "Windows\system32", and only the matching one is visible to them under this name.