Bug #49825 inconsistency in installation methods
Submitted: 19 Dec 2009 13:28 Modified: 26 Jan 2017 6:33
Reporter: Peter Laursen (Basic Quality Contributor) Email Updates:
Status: Unsupported Impact on me:
None 
Category:MySQL Server: Installing Severity:S3 (Non-critical)
Version:5.1.x - likely any 64 bit OS:Windows (any 64 bit)
Assigned to: CPU Architecture:Any
Tags: qc

[19 Dec 2009 13:28] Peter Laursen 
Description:
There seems to be no option for me to reopen http://bugs.mysql.com/bug.php?id=46870
.. so I will have to post again.

In above-mentioned report I noted that when installing MySQL for Windows 64 bit using the installer an entry like "WOW64"=dword:00000001" is added to registry.  When installing using "mysqld --install .." this "WOW64" entry is not written.

Nobody replied if this will restrict the server to behave as a 32 bit program in some respect (with memory use or whatever). I do not claim it does (I do not know), but the two installation methods seem to be inconsistent in what the add to registry.

How to repeat:
see above.

Suggested fix:
Understand, clarify and provide consistency with "WOW64" registry entry for a Windows service.
[19 Dec 2009 20:37] Peter Laursen 
I think 1st step should be that the team responsible for the Win64 installer explains why they add the "Wow64" registry entry.  They must have some info as they decided to do this.
[21 Dec 2009 13:34] Peter Laursen 
After googling a little (finding among others): 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WoW64
http://vkreynin.wordpress.com/2009/01/25/wow64-and-the-registry/
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.win32.programmer.kernel/browse_thread/thre...
http://www.vistax64.com/vista-general/247024-windows-installer-service-itunes-fix.html

.. I understand that "WoW64=1" is required for 32 bit programs running on 64 bit systems only.

So the 64 bit installer should either omit the key or (more compatible) set "WoW64=0".  Additionally installing a 32 bit server on a 64 bit system with "mysqld --install" command should create a "WoW64=1" key (what I did not check if it does, but I believe not).

If somebody tells that a 32 bit MySQL server will work without "WoW64=1" on current Windows 64 bit systems there still is no guarantee that it will still be so in the future.
[21 Dec 2009 13:55] MySQL Verification Team 
Thank you for the bug report.
[21 Dec 2009 23:57] Peter Laursen 
As Omer now downgraded from S3 to S4 I would like to ask him if he tried to run a 32 bit server as a service installed with "mysqld --install" on a 64 bit windows? Does anybody know at all if it will work?
[26 Jan 2017 6:33] Erlend Dahl 
Posted by developer:

[19 Jan 2017 5:55] Piotr Obrzut

This issue doesn't seem to be related to newer and supported installers.