Windows 7 x86 on 32-bit UEFI

Discussion in 'Windows 7' started by standal, Jan 4, 2021.

  1. standal

    standal MDL Novice

    Oct 31, 2010
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    #1 standal, Jan 4, 2021
    Hello,
    is somehow possible to install Windows 7 x86 with 32-bit UEFI only?
     
  2. HHo2016

    HHo2016 MDL Member

    Sep 10, 2016
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    #2 HHo2016, Jan 5, 2021
    I don't think it's currently possible with Windows 7. Windows 8 and later would work as they included bootia32.efi. Some Linux distros with bootia32.efi would also work unless special drivers are necessary.
    Maybe check whether your device supports legacy boot/CSM?
     
  3. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

    Oct 30, 2009
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    #3 Enthousiast, Jan 5, 2021
    No, win 7 x86 doesn't support EFI, x64 only.
     
  4. standal

    standal MDL Novice

    Oct 31, 2010
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    #4 standal, Jan 5, 2021 (OP)
    And is there a way to install Windows 7 x64 on the 32-bit UEFI? The procesor is x64 architecture.
     
  5. erpsterm35

    erpsterm35 MDL Expert

    May 27, 2013
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    #5 erpsterm35, Jan 23, 2021
    no
     
  6. George King

    George King MDL Expert

    Aug 5, 2009
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    #6 George King, Jan 23, 2021
    Maybe it's possible, if users can boot XP in UEFI using Longhorn files, Windows 7 using Windows 8 can work too. But I don't have time for this research
     
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  7. Deleted member 190847

    Deleted member 190847 Guest

    #7 Deleted member 190847, Jan 24, 2021
    Maybe. If you use Windows 8/10 bootloader, integrate proper video drivers and remove legacy VGA driver from install.wim
     
  8. Enthousiast

    Enthousiast MDL Tester

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    #8 Enthousiast, Jan 24, 2021
    Test in vm, x64 UEFI VM won't boot x86 win 8/10. Not many hardware has x86 UEFI onboard.
     
  9. Deleted member 190847

    Deleted member 190847 Guest

    #9 Deleted member 190847, Jan 24, 2021
  10. acer-5100

    acer-5100 MDL Guru

    Dec 8, 2018
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    #10 acer-5100, Jul 4, 2023
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2023
    A bit of necro bumping....

    I recently played for the first time in my life with UEFI boot of Win7.

    As I expected it was pretty straightforward using native vhds (no matter if GPT or MBR formatted),

    Then I tested a random x86 vhd and it didn't work.

    So I googled a bit and seem that everyone is focused on bootloader, but what I noticed is that in W7 32 the problem is not the bootloader at all, the problem is the *windows* loader. W732 lacks it, winload.efi (and winresume.efi) completely, and (not so surprisingly) the file taken from newer Windows doesn't work.

    But maybe some low level patching guru like @George King can take a look on it, or have one from W7/W8 beta that works...