jmak Posted April 1, 2022 Posted April 1, 2022 I've had a special request to install 32 bit Windows on a new machine to support some specialist hardware. I've tried various ways, but when I get to the Windows Setup screen the keyboard and mouse stop working so I can't select any options or click on Next. Keyboard and mouse work fine in BIOS and when I use a 64 bit install. I've tried a download from VLSC and the Microsoft media creation tool ISO download and get the same result. Any ideas?
Koldov Posted April 1, 2022 Posted April 1, 2022 (edited) Is it likely that a Windows 10 32bit x86 OS wouldn't have the correct USB/chipset drivers for that motherboard? EDIT: Any other BIOS options available to turn off (UEFI) or turn on (Legacy)... Edited April 1, 2022 by Koldov 1
jmak Posted April 1, 2022 Author Posted April 1, 2022 Is it likely that a Windows 10 32bit x86 OS wouldn't have the correct USB/chipset drivers for that motherboard? EDIT: Any other BIOS options available to turn off (UEFI) or turn on (Legacy)... I should have said- I did turn off UEFI and secure boot and turned on legacy boot. I also tried (after earlier post) turning on and off xhci. I've also tried a PS2 keyboard and using USB 2 ports as well as USB 3. It does feel like missing drivers, but not sure how I'd check, where I'd fine them or how easy it would be to install them. Maybe I need to crack on with getting WDS set up and see if I can bypass all of the install options - although I've a feeling of the drivers aren't there I might just end up with a complete Windows installation that I can't use...
Davit2005 Posted April 1, 2022 Posted April 1, 2022 Is it possible to adjust USB support to a different version in the BIOS?
jmak Posted April 1, 2022 Author Posted April 1, 2022 In BIOS utility the only USB options I have are legacy USB support and xhci handoff. When I turned legacy USB off it didn't get beyond trying to load the files and reported a hardware problem. Xhci made no difference.
Koldov Posted April 1, 2022 Posted April 1, 2022 I should have said- I did turn off UEFI and secure boot and turned on legacy boot. I also tried (after earlier post) turning on and off xhci. I've also tried a PS2 keyboard and using USB 2 ports as well as USB 3. It does feel like missing drivers, but not sure how I'd check, where I'd fine them or how easy it would be to install them. Maybe I need to crack on with getting WDS set up and see if I can bypass all of the install options - although I've a feeling of the drivers aren't there I might just end up with a complete Windows installation that I can't use... Now that is odd... I almost advised ps/2 but thought you'd say it didn't have ps/2 ports! If an old school mouse and keyboard don't work either I'd be stumped too. I'm sure I read somewhere you might need USB 1 ports for 32bit. What's the computer? If you can find x86 drivers for the motherboard it is quite easy to add to the install .wim iirc (it's a while since I did it, but if I managed it can't be too difficult)!
Arkmay Posted April 2, 2022 Posted April 2, 2022 At this point I'd put an old USB peripheral card in, plug in the keyboard to that, boot and yell 'Gotcha!'
jmak Posted April 12, 2022 Author Posted April 12, 2022 Still trying to achieve the same outcome - PC that will support a device that only had a 32 bit driver, but I've given up on the machine I was originally working on and I'm trying an older Dell desktop. I'm closer, but results are even weirder.... I installed from a bootable USB drive to a new SSD. The machine works, but only if the USB drive is plugged in. Without it I get "Critical Error Message. No bootable devices found." Once it's booted I can remove the USB drive and it runs fine. From the Dell support site they only offer drivers for 64 bit operating systems. There's clearly something missing from the installed OS - I'd be grateful for any hints on what it might be and how I could add it. TIA
chaplic Posted April 12, 2022 Posted April 12, 2022 Your new issue is, I suspect, the USB drive is marked as the bootable disk in UEFI, which is a probem in itself, can you turn that off in the bios? failing that you can modify the boot setting but I recall it being a world of faff. 1
jmak Posted April 12, 2022 Author Posted April 12, 2022 Thanks @chaplic You're correct. I've had a dig around and the BIOS doesn't support 32 bit for booting from internal drives, only legacy external. I'm going to set up a 32 bit VM and see if I can persuade the hardware to talk to it. Hardware is about 12 years old and apparently quite fussy, but a new one costs about £15k so it justifies a bit of tinkering.
clareq Posted April 12, 2022 Posted April 12, 2022 Is it worth getting one of these: https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/usb-cables/1862833?cm_mmc=UK-PLA-DS3A-_-google-_-CSS_UK_EN_Cables_%26_Wires_Whoop-_-USB+Cables_Whoop+(2)-_-1862833&matchtype=&pla-301130636309&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxtSSBhDYARIsAEn0thT4xR1SKUlbqv0vak-dQi3fdWL1Grm3E_jjSQebjWOPGP3-TXI3JMoaAlwPEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds and just putting the USB inside the case to boot from?
jmak Posted April 12, 2022 Author Posted April 12, 2022 (edited) Can't see anywhere in the motherboard to plug it in, but I was thinking of something like thishttps://www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-SDCZ430-032G-G46-Ultra-Flash-Drive/dp/B077VXV323/ in one of the ports on the back. Edited April 12, 2022 by jmak
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