This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
I have a surface. But it pre-installed windows 8 Pro 64-bit. I don't want to use 64-bit software, so I wanna install a new 32-bit Windows 8 on my surface Pro. But when I boot from my installing media, I find that surface can't get in to installing screen... I feel bad about it, who can tell me how to install Windows 8 32-bit in my surface?
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Sorry, but I think you're SOL. My understanding of it is that UEFI has to have the same architecture as the OS you're trying to run. The Surface Pro UEFI is 64-bit, and so you can only run a 64-bit OS on there.
Unfortunately, the Surface also does not have the "Legacy Boot" option to emulate a BIOS like many other PCs have.
I said this once but I'll say it again: you can install x86/32 bit software on a 64 bit version of Windows. Just download and install the 32 bit version of Office. Your key will work for both versions...
Also 64 bit Office works with tons of other applications just fine. The better option is to contact those software vendors to see if they have an update to provide Office 64 bit support. I suggest you do that if Office is the issue.
You will not solve this issue by installing 32 bit Windows. If you want a quick solution, install 32 bit Office.
Your statement regarding memory/RAM for the Surface Pro is a little absurd as well. 4GB is not "too short." You're going way off topic here. 4GB is perfectly capable of running Windows 64 bit. Heck, you can only use 3GB max with a 32 bit OS.
Microsoft does not consider this a problem because it is a fact that 32 bit OSes are on the way out. Anyone still using 32 bit is doing so because of a third party vendor requiring it for some ridiculous reason or that vendor's unwillingness to provide updates for 64 bit support.
For your initial question, it seems you are actually wanting to use x86/32 bit Office. This is the solution: install the 32 bit Office and your "other applications" will work fine.
Please mark as answered.
Alternately... I run a win xp virtual machine for legacy drivers & devices.
Hi
How do I change the OS of the Surface Pro to 32 Bit
I have a 32 Windows 8 version on usb which works ok for my laptop but wont even boot on the Surface even with all options disabled in the bios
I need to run 32Bit as some of the hardware I run in work only has 32 bit drivers and wont install under 64 Bit
As Jeffrey Roach had mentioned, in your case (cost wise) is to look for a HP Slate which are being discounted now because they are phased out. They run Windows 7 32-bit and you can install and run your program in compatibility mode (maybe) with it.
16-bit programs are absolutely gone. AND, in the near future, we will be switching over to 64-bit only.
The drivers for these Surface Pro tablets are somewhat available but you have to dig around with the chip makers sites to get them.
The lowest cost option is to find an off-lease Windows XP machine (desktop or laptop) and use it for your 16-bit program.
I have a local grocery store that still uses Windows 98. We also have an auto-repair center that has a 16-bit program they use as well and that program is very, very expensive to replace and I had to search for a machine for him. At least it does not get online for anything.
That would be a gamble to get the HP Slate and hope that your 16-bit program will work. Windows 7 did not like very many of the older programs.
