Trouble installing Windows 10 on an Intel Pentium 4

[jamestech07]

I tried to boot from a Windows 10 USB and it just skipped and booted into Windows 7 (Which is currently installed). Then I ran setup.exe from the Windows 10 USB once the pc was booted. I got these two following errors



This PC's processor doesn't support a critical feature (LAHF/SAHF)

This PC's processor doesn't support a critical feature (Prefetchw)



The computer should be able to handle Windows 10... It has 4 GB of RAM.

 

[clutchc]

Your P4 may be one of the early ones that never had 64 bit implemented. I presume you are trying to install Win 10 x64?

 

[volkgren]

What is the exact model of Pentium 4? Are you trying to install 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10?

 

[USAFRet]

Earlier P4's won't work.
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/insider_wintp-insider_devices-insiderplat_pc/windows-10-should-be-able-to-install-on-pentium-4/a31d37fe-b7e6-493d-9c6c-f2e57f9b62b7

 

[jamestech07]

Your P4 may be one of the early ones that never had 64 bit implemented. I presume you are trying to install Win 10 x64?

Yes I am trying to install x64

 

[jamestech07]

What is the exact model of Pentium 4? Are you trying to install 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10?

X64

 

[Supernova1138]

What is the exact model of Pentium 4? Are you trying to install 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10?

X64

Supposedly 64 bit Windows 10 will not work on a Pentium 4, even a 64 bit one, due to needing Virtualization support, which all the Pentium 4s lack. You may have to settle for 32 bit. Might also help to know exactly what Pentium 4 you have, only a handful of later Prescott and Cedar Mill models had 64 bit support at all.

 

[jamestech07]

What is the exact model of Pentium 4? Are you trying to install 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10?

X64

Supposedly 64 bit Windows 10 will not work on a Pentium 4, even a 64 bit one, due to needing Virtualization support, which all the Pentium 4s lack. You may have to settle for 32 bit. Might also help to know exactly what Pentium 4 you have, only a handful of later Prescott and Cedar Mill models had 64 bit support at all.

will 32 bit support 4 GB RAM?

 

[Supernova1138]

What is the exact model of Pentium 4? Are you trying to install 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10?

X64

Supposedly 64 bit Windows 10 will not work on a Pentium 4, even a 64 bit one, due to needing Virtualization support, which all the Pentium 4s lack. You may have to settle for 32 bit. Might also help to know exactly what Pentium 4 you have, only a handful of later Prescott and Cedar Mill models had 64 bit support at all.

will 32 bit support 4 GB RAM?

4GB of RAM is the maximum that 32 bit can address. You also will be restricted to 32 bit applications, though on a system that old most 64 bit only applications are too demanding to run on it anyway.

 

[jamestech07]

What is the exact model of Pentium 4? Are you trying to install 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 10?

X64

Supposedly 64 bit Windows 10 will not work on a Pentium 4, even a 64 bit one, due to needing Virtualization support, which all the Pentium 4s lack. You may have to settle for 32 bit. Might also help to know exactly what Pentium 4 you have, only a handful of later Prescott and Cedar Mill models had 64 bit support at all.

will 32 bit support 4 GB RAM?

4GB of RAM is the maximum that 32 bit can address. You also will be restricted to 32 bit applications, though on a system that old most 64 bit only applications are too demanding to run on it anyway.

thanks! I'll run 32 bit and keep you guys posted if it works

 

[onsat01gaming]

Actually, windows 10 x64 will run a Pentium 4, but only the cedar mill series, 6xx , mine is a Pentium 4 631 3.0ghz with x64 bit. currently running it on an optiplex 520 sff with 4gb ram. If you try to run it on any other series other than the cedar mill series, then windows 10 x64, or windows 8.1 x64 will not work. Trust me, ik these Pentium 4's by heart. 2018 going on 2019 and still using it as my daily driver, although it could use a simple gpu for todays standards like a gt 610 or something cheap that will get by with youtube and some more heavier sites.