openSUSE 12.3 32-bit & UEFI

English Install/Boot/Login
#1

Hello all,

Is it possible to install a 32-bit version of openSUSE 12.3 on a pc that has an UEFI system?
Somebody told me that UEFI requires a 64-bit operation system. Is this true?

Thanks.

#2

I do not know the definite answer, but logics tell me the following:

  1. When it is true that an UEFI system needs a 64-bit OS, the an UEFI system is a 64-bit system.
  2. Then why would you like to install a 32-bit openSUSE on a 64-bit system where a 64-bit openSUSE is available?

And this makes your question a very academical one.

#3

Hallo Henk,

Leuk om weer eens een landgenoot tegen te komen :slight_smile:

I need to use a program that is available only in a 32-bit package:

FAQ - EAGLE PCB Design Software - Frequently asked questions

Because I’m very busy at the moment, I don’t have much time for experimenting…

Best Regards,

Groeten vanuit het warme zonnige Italië,

Teuniz

#4

You can run 32-bit executables on 64-bits operating systems and hardware (not te other way around of course). The only thing is that installing a 32-bit application may need 32-bit versions of some libraries. And when you install such an application from a well build RMP, zypper/YaST will draw in those dependancies automaticaly.

Groetjes vanuit een vandaag wat druilerig, maar beslist niet koud Nederland.

#5

hcvv wrote:

>
> You can run 32-bit executables on 64-bits operating systems and hardware
> (not te other way around of course). The only thing is that installing a
> 32-bit application may need 32-bit versions of some libraries. And when
> you install such an application from a well build RMP, zypper/YaST will
> draw in those dependancies automaticaly.
>
> Groetjes vanuit een vandaag wat druilerig, maar beslist niet koud
> Nederland.
>
>

There’s a pattern you can select in Yast that get about all the 32 bit
libraries I’ve ever needed. They use quite a chunk of disk but disk storage
is cheap anymore. I almost never have to scramble to find libraries (or
shims). In fact, I really don’t even give it a thought anymore if I run
into a 32 program I want to run.

–
Will Honea
whonea@whonea.net

#6

UEFI is firmware. It matters for booting, but not for what is later running.

My understanding is that the standard requires the boot loader to be 64 bit. Presumably, you could have 64-bit grub2-efi loading a 32bit linux operating system.

I have not tried this. My guess is that you could install a small minimalist 64bit version. Then, separately, install a 32bit version. For the 32bit version, tell it to not install a boot loader. Then manually tweak the grub config for the 64bit, so that it offers menu options to boot your 32bit system. Note that I have not tested whether this actually works. It is probably easier to install the 32-bit compatibility libraries as others have suggested.

#7

Hello :slight_smile:

I up this thread because I just hit a computer that have 64 bit processor, but 32 bits uefi bios and 32 bits windows.

https://www.asus.com/fr/Notebooks/ASUS_EeeBook_X205TA/HelpDesk_Download/

So I want to build some 32 bits uefi pen drive.

I need something prebuilt, because this computer is not mine, I only encounter such things during install party - I need to get ready :slight_smile:

thanks
jdd

#8

Hi
Have a read here (esp comments) may give you some ideas;
https://mjg59.dreamwidth.org/26734.html

#9

Bootloader must match firmware, i.e. 64 bit firmware needs 64 bit bootloader. That is the first problem - 32 bit installation media do not include 64 bit bootloader, so you cannot boot them in EFI mode, so you cannot install in EFI mode. Second problem is, until recently Linux kernel did not support UEFI in different bit width. So no, for 12.3 it is near to impossible.

Why you need EFI? What’s wrong with legacy BIOS mode?