Can I run 32-bit version of Explorer on 64-bit Windows?

Question

For compatibility and testing, I would like to run a 32-bit version of Windows Explorer on 64-bit Windows Vista. Is this even possible? And if so, how do I do that?

I looked into the System32 folder and it contains the explorer.exe but it appears to be the 64-bit version. Is there another EXE stored in some other location that I can run, one that is 32-bit?

Correction:

The explorer.exe is stored in C:\Windows and not in C:\Windows\System32. That's what I meant.

Update:

Apparently the /separate switch is undocumented. But the /e switch may not be relevant for Windows Vista, only for Windows XP.

Here's what I found:

• Microsoft KB130510
• Microsoft KB314853
• Microsoft KB307856
• Microsoft KB895561
• Superuser - Explorer command line switches?

For Windows Vista this should be enough:

%systemroot%\syswow64\explorer.exe /separate

The /separate switch is required to start explorer.exe as a separate process. Otherwise the 64-bit version is started.

Answer 1

Although I have not personally tested this, it looks like it may be possible:

On my install, I do not have a Explore.exe in System32, only in sysWow64. Perhaps a third party download is required to make sure the application is 32bit in your system32 folder.