How can I install 32-bit Windows 8.1 in UEFI mode on a 4TB NVMe drive?
Asked by
MellowCactus42
I'm trying to install Windows 8.1 32-bit in UEFI mode and use the full capacity of a 4TB NVMe drive. The system currently has only 1GB of RAM, so I'm avoiding 64-bit versions of Windows because I'm concerned they will rely heavily on disk swapping. Windows 7 32-bit does not support the UEFI setup I need, while Windows 8.1 32-bit appears to support both UEFI and 1GB of memory. Is there a way to install it with the entire drive available?
Answers
The bigger issue here is the unusually low amount of memory for the rest of the hardware. A system built around a Core i7-6700K and a high-end graphics card would normally have several gigabytes of RAM. Before troubleshooting the operating-system installation, verify the memory configuration and strongly consider adding more RAM. With only 1GB, even a 32-bit installation will be severely limited, and the 4TB drive may also require proper UEFI and GPT support from the firmware and installer.
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MellowCactus42: The computer really does have only 1GB of RAM; I’m not joking. I’m trying to choose the version of Windows that will run acceptably with that limitation.