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Go to SolutionDifficulty installing Windows 10 32-bit on XPS8700
I have just acquired an 8700 which came with Windows 10 Pro 64-bit installed on an SSD. I need to replace this installation with the 32-bit version of Win10, as this will be the simplest solution to supporting a string of 16-bit legacy applications. I have downloaded an ISO image of the Windows10 32-bit installer from Microsoft, but what I thought would be a simple re-installation has turned into a frustrating couple of days and no results (I would be a complete mess if it weren't for the fact that the SSD makes restarts bearably quick!).
I've seen threads here suggesting that booting from a 32-bit image isn't always possible in 64-bit hardware. The only way I have managed to get the installer image to boot is to turn off UEFI, and then the installer barfs because "the disk is of GPT type".
Is there a way forward here? I gather it is preferable to have Windows boot in UEFI mode, but if I can't have that I'm willing to try anything that will have a chance of producing a working system.
Dell xps8700
Manufactured: 26 Jan 2014
Memory: 16G
SSD: Samsung 230G
BIOS: A14
BIOS Date: 31 May 2019
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Posted August 4th, 2020 05:00
Have you tried setting Load Legacy OPROM to Enable and Secure Boot to Disable in the BIOS?
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Posted August 4th, 2020 19:00
Hi Ron,
That procedure only works for Win10 32-bit, there isn't any way a 64-bit operating system can run 16-bit apps - except through a virtual machine or DOS emulation (vDos, etc).
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Posted August 4th, 2020 19:00
Hi Philip,
That will presumably mean I will need to abandon UEFI, right? I was trying to avoid that, because I gather that UEFI boot is faster, and has better security.
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Posted August 4th, 2020 20:00
Yup, tried that - I got this:
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Posted August 5th, 2020 13:00
Only 64 Bit Windows OS support a UEFI Boot, so if you want to install 32 Bit you will need to use a Legacy Boot.
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Posted August 9th, 2020 02:00
> Only 64 Bit Windows OS support a UEFI Boot, so if you want to install 32 Bit you will need to use a Legacy Boot.
Thanks @Philip_Yip, I didn't realise that. I'll try it tomorrow.
R
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Posted August 9th, 2020 17:00
All good. The installation resulted in Win10 Home on the PC. I entered my Win10 Pro key and it rejected it, I then found out about the trick of upgrading to Win10 Pro with the internet disconnected and using the temporary key VK7JG-NPHTM-C97JM-9MPGT-3V66T and then entering my own key and activating it.
Thanks for your help.
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Posted January 26th, 2022 18:00
I have the same problem. 50% of my software is 16bit based and the cost to upgrade is 10x the cost of the dell desktop. I bought an Inspirion 6 months ago and still can't load any 32 bit os. I have installed a VM, and dos emulator. Neither work as good as a real 32 bit os. I should have just returned the computer to costco. This has been a real pain. Dell tech support is pretty useless since they off loaded it to India. They have no idea how to install an OS even going so far as to tell me that I can't upgrade win 10 64 to win 11. If you found a way to install win 10 32 bit on a uefi 64 bit pc, please let me know.
Philip_Yip
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Posted August 4th, 2020 11:00
In the UEFI BIOS Setup you need:
• Disable Secure Boot
• Enable Legacy a Legacy Boot
• Enable Legacy ROMS
The Bootable USB should be made with Rufus. Use:
• The MBR Partition Scheme
• NTFS Format
Windows 11 Installation Guide
Windows 7 Installation Guide