"Most of my programs" is most annoyingly vague. We don't know what "your programs" are. Maybe if you told us (exactly) which programs "won't even install" and how you are tring to install them we might be able to help you. They must be quite unusual, because I have Windows 7 64 bit and I have installed piles of 32 bit apps both console and GUI ranging from Firefox via Xnews (!) and MS Office 2003 and UtraEdit32 to VirtualDub and FFmpeg and loads more. In fact here is a listing of my Program Files (x86) folder
7-Zip
7room
AC3Filter
ACD Systems
Acro Software
Adobe
*SPAM URL* Studio
ALCATEL PC Suite
AltBinz
AMD
Analog Clock
Anomos
Appetizer_1.4.7.508
Ashampoo
ATI
ATI Technologies
AutoIt3
AutoIt3-001
Avira
AviSynth 2.5
Bandwidth Monitor Pro
BandwidthMeterPro
bin
bitRipper
BurnAware Free
Canon
Chromium Updater
Classic Start Menu
CMAK
Common Files
CPU Speed Pro
DAEMON Tools Lite
Dexpot
DivX
Dorgem
Downloaded Installers
DsNET Corp
EASEUS
Easy Macro Recorder
Elaborate Bytes
Executor
ExtraRename21
FBReader
ffdshow
FlashTray Pro
Folder Size
FreeMeterRevival
freestar
GetFLV
get_iplayer
GNU
GnuPlot
Google
GrabIt
GRETECH
GSpot270a
Hellonzb
HJSplit
i-Menu
IDM Computer Solutions
ImageMagick-6.6.2-Q16
ImgBurn
InstallShield Installation Information
Internet Explorer
JAM Software
Java
Ka Firetask
KDE
Lavalys
LSoft Technologies
MatrixMixer
Mavis
MediaInfo
Microsoft ActiveSync
Microsoft Office
Microsoft Reader
Microsoft Rich Tools
Microsoft SDKs
Microsoft Security Client
Microsoft Silverlight
Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition
Microsoft Synchronization Services
Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0
Microsoft.NET
Moyea
Mozilla Firefox
MPC HomeCinema
MSBuild
MSECache
MSXML 4.0
NeoSmart Technologies
Nero
NetMeter
NewsBin
NewsRover
NoDrives Manager
OpenSource Flash Video Splitter
Opera
Orbitdownloader
Paragon Software
Pazera_Free_MP4_to_AVI_Converter
PC Drivers HeadQuarters
PDFCreator
PowerMenu
QuickPar
QuickTime
Reference Assemblies
Rekenwonder Software
Rokario
Scite (Text Editor)
SE-SOFT.COM
SeaMonkey
Send To Toys
Simpli Software
SlimCleaner
SmartPAR_0.13d1
SpeedFan
Start Menu 7
Sublight
SysResources Manager
TCL
TclockEx
TechSmith
Tray Commander Lite
trayit_4_6_5_5
Trend Micro
Tribler
TweakNow PowerPack 2009
Ultimate Tweaker
Uninstall Information
Unlocker
Unzbin
URUSoft
USBDview
VideoLAN
Virtual Earth 3D
VirtualDub
VirtualDubMod_1.5.10.3_b2550
Vista Start Menu
VMware
Vuze
wGXe SOFTWARE
Winamp
Winamp Detect
WinDirStat
Windows Defender
Windows Mail
Windows Media Components
Windows Media Player
Windows NT
Windows Photo Viewer
Windows Portable Devices
Windows Resource Kits
Windows Sidebar
Windows Virtual PC
WindowsPager097
WinPcap
WinRAR
WinZip
X-Setup Pro
XDTK
xNeat Application Builder
XYplorer
Zoom Player
