Q. Can I install x86-based Microsoft Office Pro Plus in a 32-bit OS, x64-based processor? (via Quora)
A: Almost surely, yes. You usually can run 32-bit software on 64-bit hardware.
In your case, you want to run a 32-bit (“x86”) version of Office on 32-bit Windows, itself installed on a 64-bit system. That’s all legit and allowed.
The Office software won’t be dealing directly with the underlying 64-bit hardware; it will only see and interact with the 32-bit OS and its drivers.
As long as your 32-bit Windows OS is itself working properly, you should be able to install and use just about any 32-bit software you wish.
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Fred:
There is one case I have encountered over the years where 32-bit Windows was required — A friend of mine was going to join a Dropbox group. She was running Windows 7 on her computer. She was told that she needed to install XP Mode in order to be able to access the Drop box group. In the course of getting it all set up on her computer, I found that her 32-bit version of Windows 7 could access it just fine. Apparently XP Mode wasn’t what was needed; 32-bit Windows was what was needed.
Jim
Interesting! Looks like you uncovered a bit of sloppy programming! I’m guessing it was in the DropBox app; I hope it wasn’t in Windows itself. Either way, I wonder how many other people were snagged by the same error, and went ahead with the whole XP Mode installation? I hope there weren’t too many!