title: Why does downloading the x86-64 python installer cause a 32 bit set up to occur on my PC?
body: <p>When i downloaded Windows x86 executable installer from this <a href="https://www.python.org/downloads/release/python-374/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">python download link</a>.  </p>
  
  <p>and run the file and I greeted with</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/7HtCa.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/7HtCa.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p>Please see my PC description below</p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/WIuUQ.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/WIuUQ.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <p>I cannot find posts of anybody else who has had this problem. I'm completely stumped as to why this happened?</p>
  
  <p>Edit: I misunderstood the meaning of x86 - it refers to the predecessors of x64 (e.g. 16 bit, 32 bit). The reason why is explained well here <a href="https://serverfault.com/questions/188177/why-does-x86-represent-32bit-when-x64-represents-64bit">https://serverfault.com/questions/188177/why-does-x86-represent-32bit-when-x64-represents-64bit</a></p>