Possible to install Win 10 32bit on NUC 8i3 ?

[DKoma3]

Hello guys.

Trying to install Win 10 32bit on new NUC (for mum; to have compatibility with old DOS aplication)

I boot from USB, but on Windows Region Select ​Screen it stop responding to keyboard. I have tried also cable keyboard to USB2.0 port - the same, keyboard stop to respond.

Is possible somehow to install Win10 32b to NUC 8i3?

Thanks for any help in advance.

[AlHill]

Only 64 bit windows 10 is supported.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000005628/intel-nuc.html

You could install Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, then create a Windows 10 32-bit virtual machine using hyper-v, then run your 16-bit apps there.

Doc

[DKoma3]

Thanks Al. Didnt know I can not install 32bit OS. :( Unlucky.

For mother as a user I can not go over virtual machine.

[AlHill]

Careful, I did not say you could not install it, I only said it was not supported.

Doc

[LeonWaksman]

1. I would like to inform you that 64bit O.S. can run 32 bit programs, however, 32 bit O.S. can't run 64 bit programs. So, I suggest that you should rethink your decision to install 32 bit Windows om 64 bit computer.
2. In case that you will choose to stay with your decision, follow my instruction how to install Windows 32 bit on NUC. First, it have to be clean installation. Secondly, it is advised to prepare the installation media USB, using Microsoft Media Creation Tool.
3. One think more. Since only 64bit version is supported by Intel for this NUC, if you install 32 bit version, you need to stay with Microsoft defaults drivers (which is not good choice).
4. Please prepare your installation media (you need 8GB – 32GB USB stick), using Microsoft Media Creation Tool: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209
5. Your bios should be set to default settings. Enter bios (press F2 during boot) and then press F9 (Y) to set defaults and F10 (Y) to save settings and exit.
6. With the installation media inserted into rear USB slot, power ON your NUC and repeatably press F10 to get Boot Menu.
7. In this menu, choose UEFI option of you Installation media.
8. Follow this tutorial to continue with installation https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-clean-install-windows-10-a.html
9. In para. 7 you may enter Product Key from the Microsoft Distribution you bought.
10. Skip on para. 12 and continue in para. 13. Important, do not format drive where you want to install Windows, rather delete all existing partitions from this drive, till you see one unallocated space.
11. Press Next and continue with the installation.

Leon

[DKoma3]

Hello Leon

Thanks for reply.

I did almost all as u writing. Microsoft Media creation tool can do only Legacy boot USB. When I did UEFI boot over Rufus, NUC is not seeing it in any USB port - dont know why.

Problem is that as soon as Windows 32b instalation start and get to Region selection screen, keyboard and mouse stop working. (In bios both works)

With 64b is no problem to continue - keyboard works.

[LeonWaksman]

Hello @DKoma3​ ,

You are wrong. Microsoft Media Creation Tool creates installation media that can boot in UEFI boot. Follow exactly my instructions (including para. 5). and you will be able to install Windows . Insert the Installation Media USB in rear USB port. I've installed Windows many times on NUC. It should take 10-15 minutes.

Leon

[DKoma3]

Hello Leon

A little step forward. Finally it detected uefi boot usb.

I did create uefi usb with NTFS in Rufus. With Fat32 it does not detect bootable USB.

Where to select in Microsoft media boot tool I want to format to NTFS? Computer where I creating boot usb is rather old, with no uefi bios.

Anyway, when I put there 32b windows on usb, getting error:

Could not locate bootx64.efi

[LeonWaksman]

Hello @DKoma3​ ,

1. My instructions how to install Windows 10 are very clear and detailed. I suspect that you have problem with English text. You may press on "Translate" in my post R.H bottom corner and choose you language to translate my post.
2. I wan't again to emphasise, you don't need to format neither the USB and neither the drive in your computer. Download the Microsoft Creation Tool and using this tool, prepare you Installation USB. It is very straightforward. Do not use Rufus.
3. Follow para. 5 and 10 in my instructions. Do not format drive, just press next and your drive will be partitioned to GPT style partition with NTFS File System.
4. If you have still problem, write post in your language. We can translate it.

Leon

[DKoma3]

Hello Leon

So almost whole day of troubleshooting and googling.

I did everything you said, and already mentioned it wont find any uefi bootable media.

Theres a trick to put second usb stick into front. And then it really find the bootable uefi usb. (What is this for a behaviour?)

But then I get error screen:

Recovery

Your PC/device needs to be repaired.

Enter - Try again

F8 - Startup settings

Esc - Uefi firmware settings

How to include here the picture pls?

[LeonWaksman]

1. Did you set Bios to default setting, by pressing F9? Please answer.
2. Did you prepared your installation USB using Microsoft Media Creation Tool? Please answer.
3. Did you enter into Boot Menu, by pressing F10 after power ON your NUC? Please answer.
4. If the answer for question in para. 3 is yes, was UEFI option of your Installation Media displayed? Please answer.
5. If the If the answer for question in para. 4 is negative, please try to install Windows, however insert the Installation USB in left front USB port (with orange color).
6. In order to attach image to the post click on 5-th icon from left or use "paper clip" in the L.H. bottom corner.

Leon

[DKoma3]

Hello Leon

I created 32 and 64b boot usb over media Creation Tool. Now it detect bootable USB also without aditional usb stick in front.

To your questions

1. Yes

2. Yes

3. Yes

4. Yes

Here is video https://youtu.be/W7tTHg--s38

If booting from uefi, getting what u see in video.

If booting legacy (rufus), installation start, but keyboard stop working (also in usb2.0) on choose region screen.

64b install is all good over legacy or uefi.

Looks like I will have to return this computer back to store. :(

You sure, you have ever installed 32b Win to NUC gen. 6 or later?

Thanks

[LeonWaksman]

On your video, I can see that you have an other Windows installed on your computer. Windows 10 32 bit cannot override the installation on the Operating System of 64 bit. It can only be install by wiping out the Operating system from the computer. You cannot change the architecture of Windows from the Operating system. You need to change the architecture from outside of the Operating System like performing clean install. I suggest that you do the following to clean the 64 Bit installation:

1. Boot form Your installation media USB.
2. Choose the 64 Bit option.
3. On the first setup screen enter your language and other preferences and click Next.
4. Now, click on "Repair your computer" in the left bottom corner.
5. Click on Troubleshoot.
6. Click on Advanced Options
7. Click on Command Prompt.
8. In the Command Prompt execute the following command (click on Enter after each command):

• Diskpart
• List disk
• sel disk n (where n is the number of system drive )
• clean all
• exit

9. Now after wiping your drive, power Off your NUC and begin to installing 32 bit Windows 10.

Leon

[DKoma3]

Hello Leon

I did wipe out disk as u sugessted. Unfortunatelly again same screen, when I choose 32bit in boot screen.

I guess NUC has only 64b UEFI, so not possible to install 32b Win. :(

Anyway I really appraciate you were helping me.

Thanks a lot.

[LeonWaksman]

Hello @DKoma3​ 

1. I've to admit that this is an surprize for me. Probably you are right, the UEFI Bios has indeed 64 bit architecture and 32 bit O.S. can't be installed on it.
2. I tested this on NUC8i7INH I have. I was trying to install 32 bit Windows 10 and get exactly the same result as you did.
3. There is some information about this problem here:https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-hardware/windows-10-32-bit-native-uefi-install-on/c72ff865-859a-43d7-b24c-5e726efba22a

Leon

[AlHill]

"I guess NUC has only 64b UEFI"

Only 64-bit UEFI... That is a new one on me.

Doc

[User1590741849541667]

The best answer i saw above is to create an installation disk for Win 10 32bit,why not do that?

[User1590741849541667]

About this problem.If you have the installation disk in advance, you can do that with a password reset disk,you can also make one for it,you can try this program.

https://www.windows10passwordreset.com/create-windows-10-bootable-usb.html

 Or try using Rufus and or other.

https://iso-to-usb.en.softonic.com

https://rufus-usb.en.uptodown.com/windows/download