What Does "I386" Mean?

[mutefan]

I'm trying to follow directions from a software company named Newsoft
on how to get an Epson scanner (that works perfectly with older
versions of Windows) to work at all on XP. Apparently, an installation
disk that comes with the scanner installs a twain driver in Windows,
when it should have been installed in the system folder.

I've had it with not understanding Windows nomenclature! Not that
"I386" has anything at all to do with the above problem, but when I
search for "stragglers" to the software using Search, I find a lot of
twain files in I386.

What is I386? I thought I got rid of my old 386 years ago.

 

[Jim]

I'm trying to follow directions from a software company named Newsoft
on how to get an Epson scanner (that works perfectly with older
versions of Windows) to work at all on XP. Apparently, an installation
disk that comes with the scanner installs a twain driver in Windows,
when it should have been installed in the system folder.

I've had it with not understanding Windows nomenclature! Not that
"I386" has anything at all to do with the above problem, but when I
search for "stragglers" to the software using Search, I find a lot of
twain files in I386.

What is I386? I thought I got rid of my old 386 years ago.

I386 is the name of the folder which contains backup files for the OS. For
example, when you delete a driver for whatever reason, at the next boot,
Windows looks in I386 for the correct driver.

I386 is just a name although the current CPUs are expanded versions of the
old 386 CPUs.

Jim

 

[Stubby]

Several years ago, Microsoft envisioned versions of NT and follow-ons
for the Intel 386..., DEC/COMPAQ/HP Alpha, etc. I386 was named because
that is where Intel 386 - specific software would live.