Installing 32-bit Windows on a monoblock with UEFI, GPT and Windows 8.1 x64 on board?

Question

System administration

Hello!
I fell into the hands of a candy bar with Windows 8.1 x64 preinstalled. Monoblock HP ProOne 400.
There is a certain software that works only on a 32-bit system, respectively, you need to install Windows 8.1 x86 in a monoblock.
The problem is that when booting from UEFI, the bootloader stubbornly searches for bootx64.efi, tried to slip bootia32.efi through the custom UEFI application (boot option), and simply renaming the 32-bit bootloader to bootx64.efi - no sense 0, red box with a message about an unsupported application.
Booted via Legacy boot from a DVD-blank - "Windows cannot be installed to this partition, because it has the GPT style." Converting GPT to MBR using Acronis LiveUSB (albeit an old one, 2014, and from under Legacy) could not be done, "Acronis internal error".
The Microsoft "mediacreationtool" utility did not help either - the bootloader stupidly does not see the flash drive. Probably due to the fact that it was formatted by the utility in FAT32, I found out by experience that only NTFS rolls.
And now, attention, a question!
Could it be that UEFI is in this monoblock and does not support 32-bit bootloaders?
If this cannot be, what do you say, why can't install the target system? How can I roll it up?
Maybe booting from Legacy, full formatting the disk in MBR and installing it already will work? Are there any pitfalls in this method?

Answer 1

I don’t remember that UEFI could be x64 only, but let’s say the comrade is right. Win 8 even in the x32 edition supports GPT. Let's say for some reason it doesn't work for you. Indeed, all that remains is to boot into Legasy and re-partition the HDD under MBR. I didn't encounter any issues with this option. In your case, there will be no native drivers for Win8 x32 on the vendor's website. But the declared support for Win7 x32 is encouraging. Often it is possible to feed firewood from Vin10 x32. Good luck.

Answer 2

x86 Windows itself (7 for sure, 8 most likely too) cannot work in UEFI mode.
a disk from gpt to mbr can be transferred using standard Windows tools
ALL DATA WILL BE DELETED!
shift + f10 in the installer will open the console
diskpart
select disk <disk number>
clean
convert MBR
well, you can put legacy only in the BIOS

Answer 3

Could it be that UEFI is in this monoblock and does not support 32-bit bootloaders?

The way it is. 32 bit EFI is a rare beast, extinct ten years ago.