Why is Windows VM 32 bit

I just installed Parallels Desktop 9 along with Windows 8.1. So far so good. But I did find something curious.
When I clicked on "PC Info" to see the details about my setup, I noticed this under System type:

"32-bit Operating System,x64 based processor"

Should this not be 64-bit?

I have iMac with Intel Core i7 870 @ 2.93 GHz with 4 GB of ram dedicated to the VM.

 

I just installed Parallels Desktop 9 along with Windows 8.1. So far so good. But I did find something curious.
When I clicked on "PC Info" to see the details about my setup, I noticed this under System type:

"32-bit Operating System,x64 based processor"

Should this not be 64-bit?

I have iMac with Intel Core i7 870 @ 2.93 GHz with 4 GB of ram dedicated to the VM.

 

Hello ScottTherrell,

It means that you have currently installed x86 (32-bit) and your CPU is x64 (64-bit) compatible.

You can run both x86 and x64 OS with your CPU.

If you would like to have 64-bit Windows 8.1 Operating System on your Parallels Desktop, you can install a new copy of Windows 8.1 using the 64-bit

installation media by following the steps as suggested at http://kb.parallels.com/4729

 

I am installing from windows.iso image file that I download from Microsoft. Why would it be 32 bit and not 64. During the this whole process, i was never presented with the option. I used my work pc to to get the windows.ios file because the purchase process downloads a .exe "setup" app that actually downloads the windows.iso file. My work pc is 32-bit. Would this be the reason? I was under the impression that Windows 8.1 was only 64 bit.

 

Here is some further information for anyone else who maybe in the same situation.

The situation is:

I want to install Parallels Desktop 9 and Windows 8.1 on my Mac. I purchased Windows 8.1 via download, therefore I do not have the physical DVD available. When I click the "Download" button an .exe file, which WILL NOT open on a Mac, is downloaded. I copy this file to a flash a drive and transfer it to my work PC, which is an older 32-bit machine. As it turns out, this .exe file is a "setup" app that gathers information about my system. It assumes that I want Windows 8.1 installed on my work PC and begins gathering information about my system.

Once this completes and the "setup" app has done it's thing, I am presented with a "Install Windows 8.1" window, which gives me three options.
1. Install now
2. install by creating media
3. Install later from your desktop

I choose option 2, which then gives the choice of installing on a USB flash drive or creating an ISO file, which is a disk file similar to a .dmg file. I choose the ISO file and save it to my flash drive so I can take it home and load it into Parallels.

The catch is that the "setup" app created a 32-bit ISO file because that is what my work PC is. This 32-bit version did in fact install on Paralles and works fine, but, it's not what I paid for.

My solution: I called Microsoft Store, got a refund and was advised to purchase a physical copy from a local retailer.

My advice: If you opt for the ISO option, which is logical for any Mac that does not have an optical drive, make sure the ISO file is created on a 64-bit PC machine.