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Long story short, I have a Windows 10 tablet that's running 32-bit Windows 10. I'd like to install 32-bit Windows 7, but the tablet's BIOS is UEFI only and doesn't have legacy/CSM boot options.

Is there any way I can modify a 32-bit Windows 7 ISO to boot on 32-bit UEFI only systems like one can do with Linux ISOs and bootia32.efi?

If not, how can I boot a 64-bit Windows 7 on my tablet's 32-bit UEFI?

Tablet specs:

Insignia NS-P08W7100C

  • Intel ATOM CPU
  • 2GB RAM
  • 32GM EMMC
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devicemodder
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  • ["**Can Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008 read, write, and boot from GPT disks?** Yes, all versions can use GPT partitioned disks for data. Booting is only supported for 64-bit editions on UEFI-based systems."](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/windows/hardware/design/dn640535(v=vs.85)) – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams Jul 10 '18 at 02:23
  • if you really need to use Windows 7 you can run it in a virtual machine – phuclv Jul 10 '18 at 03:08
  • I only have 2 gigs of ram and a VM would be too slow in this tablet. That's why I want to get 32 bit 7 running natively... even if it means trying to Frankenstein a bootable windows iso. – devicemodder Jul 10 '18 at 03:36
  • You could possibly-maybe get this working with a different bootloader (maybe GRUB?) to chainload into Windows. Maybe. – Bob Jul 10 '18 at 03:52
  • I was starting to think the same, cant find any tutorials online and dont know enough about grub to do it without. – devicemodder Jul 10 '18 at 03:58
  • Shim bootloader? – Damon Jul 10 '18 at 10:41

2 Answers2

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If not, how can I boot a 64 bit win 7 on my tablets 32 bit UEFI?

No; Your device came with Windows 8+ because only Windows 8+ supports a 32-Bit UEFI kernel. While your processor supports the 64-bit extension, Windows 7 32-bit cannot run on your device.

Only Windows 8+ supports booting a 64-bit operating system from a 32-bit UEFI kernel. What you want is not possible. I suggest using Windows 10 instead.

Is there any way I can modify a 32-bit win 7 iso to boot on 32-bit UEFI only systems like one can with Linux isos and a bootia32.efi?

No.

Q: Can Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008 read, write, and boot from GPT disks?

A: Booting is only supported for 64-bit editions on UEFI-based systems.

Source: Answers about Windows disk support

Anyway I can remove the 64-bit system files on my iso/USB and replace them with the ones from the 32 bit while preserving the 64-bit EFI booting?

No

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Ramhound
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  • @phuclv I quoted Microsoft, not Wikipedia, so citation of Wikipedia isn’t necessary. **Your comment is confusing.** – Ramhound Jul 12 '18 at 15:02
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Yes it should be theoretically possible to use Windows on UEFI with mismatched bitness, but for the time being even the nuttiest hacks haven't been confirmed to be able to cross this boundary.

Anyway, this was just to dot the i's. Outside of the navel gazing, you can directly make Windows 7 32-bit UEFI-compatible. You just need the x86 version of uefiseven and then tinker a bit with W8's bootloader.

If people could pull this off with XP, it's surely possible.

mirh
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