How do you check on Vista if .exe file is 32-bit or 64-bit?

[gee9782@yahoo.com]

Assume 64-bit Vista and assume that you do not want to run the .exe
file
Is there a utility that will read an .exe file and provide specifics
like 32-bit or 64-bit code?

I have one utility that will provide a lot of info included in .exe
file but none
indicates if the code was compiled as 32-bit or 64-bit

[Brink]

In the 64-bit Vista Task Manager (CTRL+SHIFT+ESCAPE), in the Processes
tab, you can look to see if the running EXE file has "*32" next to it.
If it does, then it is a 32-bit program. If not, then it is a 64-bit
program.

[gee9782@yahoo.com]

My question is not about a running/executing program.
My question is about an .exe file without ever running/executing it.

[Ralph]

Since there is work involved in producing a 64 bit version of a program, in
a world where almost all the OSs are 32 bit,
all programs advertise when their program is written for 64 bit. It's a
selling point.

Check the user requirements for any program.
When you don't find it, it'll be 32 bit.

[Tom Lake]

Yes but is there a programmatic way to tell if an executable
is 32- or 64-bit without running it? Maybe something in the header?

[youmadethisnecessary]

There is a GNU-util called "file". I think you could either download GNU Coreutils for Windows or you can compile your own version of "file" using Cygwin.

The usage of "file" is very easy; just type:

file {filename}

It'll output something like that (on Linux):

{filename}: ELF 64-bit LSB executable, x86-64, version 1 (SYSV), for GNU/Linux 2.6.8, dynamically linked (uses shared libs), stripped