Cannot install 32 bit application on a 64 bit Windows machine

When installing a 32-bit IBM Informix Client SDK product on a 64-bit Windows machine, you may see a message stating that you cannot install becuase you are using a 64 bit machine.

The problem is due to the Windows redirection path not being included in your systems PATH environment variable setting.

Windows 64-bit machine

1. Open a Windows command window ('cmd')
2. run: "set PATH=C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\;%PATH%"
3. Run the setup.exe for IBM Informix Client SDK

To confirm that the Informix 32-bit ODBC driver has been installed run:

"C:\windows\syswow64\odbcad32.exe" and look under the Drivers tab.

If the above step did not work, check the set PATH again. The reason for that error is because the installer may need to spawn some child processes which need to be 32-bit. As specified in the message, you need to prefix the 32-bit system tools directory (C:\WINDOWS\SYSWOW64) in the PATH.

Sometimes it is not enough to do it through a CMD shell and start the installconnect.exe process from there, because the spawned processes (installconnect.exe/javaw.exe) would have the user PATH value, not the one in the CMD shell.
 
You must change the System variable so any child process would also pick the new PATH.
 
That would allow any child process to have the C:\WINDOWS\SYSWOW64 prefix in the PATH. If you need it, you may restore the value of the PATH environment variable after the CSDK/IConnect installation.

Control Panel -> System -> Advanced (tab) -> Environment Variable button