Windows 10: Will we see a 32 bit preview of W9 ?

Just wondering because I'd really like to try it out, however I would be installing it on an older laptop which was a non starter for W8.1 x64 due to non availability of drivers. The x86 version I managed to get to run well.

:)

 

Email attachments don't show in Windows 10 File Explorer Preview pane

Hi Stanley,

A bit more info - in both cases, we are dragging and dropping emails from Outlook to shared Dropbox folders in File Explorer. We both have 32-bit Outlook. We're looking at exactly the same file. I can preview the message in the preview pane, but I can't
see that the message has attachments - he can.

 

Win 10 64-bit Preview on a 32-bit computer

You need to perform a custom install, you can't do in place upgrades from 32 bit versions of Windows to Windows 10 64 bit.

How
to: Do a custom installation of Windows

also

How do I upgrade from 32 bit versions of Windows to 64 bit Windows 10?

How
to: Switch from 32 bit versions of Windows to Windows 10 64 bit

 

Hard to say but the main issue there would also be the drivers that will come with Win 9. It may not recognize most of the hardware on the old laptop. I remember my 4 year old machine had problems with Win 8 drivers before. So I would be expecting something worse than that. I just hope that hardware manufacturers will be proactive about the Win 9 release this time around. Win 8 should be a lesson learned.

 

Yes, a problem indeed... and the laptop in question will be 8 yr old this December (Acer 9301). When W8 preview launched, I tried it but had to abandon things. Error messages and no video driver that I could get to work. With W8.1 x64 it was the wireless card driver that was a real problem, the x86 version happily accepting an older Vista driver.

It will certainly be interesting to see how it pans out.

 

You could always download VMware Player Plus: Easiest Way to Run a Virtual Machine | United States virtual machine and load the ISO image of Windows 9 in you current OS so that you don't have to risk anything until the OS is fully ready. That is what I am going to do. Run a virtual machine and then install it on the bare metal hardware when I am more familiar with it. If you need more info on VM check out the tutorials on the sister 7 and 8 sites.

 

Thanks for that. I've never been down the VM road (so I'd be starting as a total beginner) but it certainly looks a workable option if I hit installation issues.


Thanks *Smile

 

The early preview looks to be an enterprise preview so I would expect an x86 version just for compatibility issues. Some corporations are running some pretty ancient software. Just my 2 cents.

 

That would be good if it was. My old Acer has run XP, Vista (for most of the time), W7, and W8.1 Enterprise. 8.1 has been the best overall experience.

 

I'm also going the VMware path as well. If I think it went well enough I'll do a dual boot but that's only if things go really well in the VMware environment and if the reports from others here are positive on that type of testing.

 

If you create your VM as a VHD or VHDX type then you can run it as a VM or dual boot it. Probably...

Windows 8 VHD - Create at Boot to Dual Boot with

 

So did you have any issues with the processor? Windows 8x apparently needs PAE, DEP and NX to work. I'm hoping I can get an x86 version to work.

 

Hi Jody,

W8.1 x86 runs like a dream. I struggled with the WiFi on the 64 bit and also noticed that there were very few offered drivers from MS for that version. The x86 auto installed a working (and working well) NVidia graphics driver despite me having updates set to notify only. It knew *Smile that the system was unusable without that one driver and so went ahead and installed it. The processor is an AMD Turion 64 and has no problems that I know of.

The only real difference I notice between the x86 on the Acer and the x64 on the Dell is that the Dell has the fantastic quick boot and shutdown times offered by W8.1, the Acer doesn't seem able to use that facility. Quick as in 13 to 14 seconds from hitting the power button to being on-line with the desktop or start screen fully populated. The Dell with its i5 processor is a lot snappier but that's only to be expected.

 

@ Mooly, there are some drivers included with the install media that will get installed whether you have updates enabled or not. Some are required for the OS to run in the first place. Why did you uninstall the NVidia driver? Did you install a newer version?

 

I haven't uninstalled any drivers. W8 preview didn't offer any and it was up to me to try and find usable ones... not very successfully I might add. They all gave major start up and shut down errors.

W8.1 x86 (the Enterprise edition) installed like a dream. A working NVidia driver was installed without me doing anything. I've left that one in place.