Introduction
Although modern computers often come with 64-bit UEFI systems, there are still situations where you might want to install a 32-bit version of Windows 10. One such scenario is when you're working with older hardware or software that only supports 32-bit operating systems. In this article, we'll walk you through the process of installing a 32-bit Windows 10 system on a 64-bit UEFI machine using Rubber Boot.
Prerequisites
Before we begin, make sure you have the following:
- A 64-bit UEFI system with at least 4GB of RAM
- A valid 32-bit Windows 10 installation media
- Rubber Boot (a multiboot manager for UEFI systems)
Installing Rubber Boot
Follow these steps to install Rubber Boot:
- Download and extract the Rubber Boot package:
- Create a new EFI partition:
- Mount the EFI partition:
- Copy the Rubber Boot files to the EFI partition:
- Unmount the EFI partition:
$ wget https://github.com/RubberDuckyTeams/RubberBoot/releases/download/v1.2.1/RubberBoot-v1.2.1.zip
$ unzip RubberBoot-v1.2.1.zip
$ sudo fdisk -l
Identify the partition you want to use for the EFI system and create a new FAT32 partition if needed:
$ sudo mkfs.vfat /dev/sdaX
$ sudo mount /dev/sdaX /mnt
$ sudo cp RubberBoot-v1.2.1/RubberBoot.efi /mnt/EFI/BOOT/
$ sudo umount /mnt
Creating a 32-bit Windows 10 entry in Rubber Boot
Follow these steps to create a new entry for the 32-bit Windows 10 installation:
- Mount the Windows 10 installation media:
- Create a new file for the Windows 10 entry:
- Edit the new file:
- Unmount the Windows 10 installation media:
$ sudo mount /dev/sdXY /mnt
$ sudo touch /mnt/EFI/BOOT/win10x86.cfg
$ sudo nano /mnt/EFI/BOOT/win10x86.cfg
Add the following content:
title Windows 10 32-bit
loader (multiboot2/x86.efi)
$ sudo umount /mnt
Booting from Rubber Boot
Reboot your computer and press the key to enter the UEFI boot menu (usually F12 or Esc). Select the Rubber Boot entry and press Enter. Once Rubber Boot loads, select the Windows 10 32-bit entry and press Enter to start the installation process.
Conclusion
Installing a 32-bit Windows 10 system on a 64-bit UEFI machine using Rubber Boot can be a bit tricky, but with the right tools and a clear understanding of the process, it's definitely doable. In this article, we've walked you through the steps required to install Rubber Boot, create a new entry for the 32-bit Windows 10 installation, and boot from Rubber Boot to start the installation process.