X270: M.2 disk for installing 32-bit Windows?

[Edward Mendelson]

I bought an X270 a while ago, and found that the M.2 NVMe hard disk wouldn't let me install 32-bit Windows, as I hoped, but I decided to live with it. Here's the old thread on this subject:

/viewtopic.php?t=123343

Now it occurs to me that I could install an older-style M.2 disk in the WWAN slot - it doesn't seem too difficult to do - and install 32-bit Windows on that. But I'm not sure whether 32-bit Windows will install on those drives, and can't find anything online that says yes or no. Does anyone have any experience with this? Ideally, I like to install 32-bit Windows on the WWAN-slot M.2 and leave 64-bit Windows on the NVMe disk, and use the Windows bootloader to choose between them. But if this is impossible, I'll be glad to know it before buying that new disk.

[Thinkpad4by3]

Can the BIOS force it into legacy mode?

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[Edward Mendelson]

Yes, by disabling Secure Boot, I can set legacy mode. Am I right to think this is a good sign?

[Thinkpad4by3]

Yes, by disabling Secure Boot, I can set legacy mode. Am I right to think this is a good sign?

Yes, it probably thinks 32 bit windows is like windows 95 and it preventing the execution of the 32 bit code. Legacy mode should prevent the TPM from screwing with 32 but windows

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[Edward Mendelson]

OK - thank you. I'll report back after I've bought an M.2 disk and tried it out - which may not happen immediately.