Q4OS Forum

ttsnap

Member

Registered: 2025-11-07

Posts: 10

Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

Hi,

currently I have bought some exemplars of the older HP 408 Pro Tablet.
By using ventoy I could boot without any problem into a live install medium for any of the Q4OS versions, in 32  or 64 bit.

Installing the 32 bit of trinity worked without any problems, but I'd prefer to work with the 64 bit version because of newer  programm versions run there, like latest versions of Java or VS Code.

However the installation of Q4OS 64 bit seems to fail because it won't install the bootloader correctly.
The tablet is limited by booting only 32 bit EFI but there seem to be ways to load a 64 bit version from a 32 bit bootloader somehow for a lot of cases.

However I was not able for now to do so an wanted to ask if anyone here has some experience doing that or can help me installaing the bootloader systematically as my understanding is a bit limited.

I am positive that it should be possible and then this would be a very good reuse of old actually still quite capable hardware.

Best regards!

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 6,109

Website

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

Welcome to the forum

However the installation of Q4OS 64 bit seems to fail because it won't install the bootloader correctly.

That should work at least for Q4OS-5 Aquarius. Please specify:
- What .iso are you using for Q4OS installation ?
- How did you create the bootable USB ?
- Are you able to boot the Q4OS live media .iso ?
- Post some error messages and details of installation process.

ttsnap

Member

Registered: 2025-11-07

Posts: 10

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

- What .iso are you using for Q4OS installation ?
Q4OS Andromeda, Plasma, live - 64bit / x64, latest version.
- How did I create the bootable USB ?
Ventoy
- Are you able to boot the Q4OS live media .iso ?
Yes, and it works pretty smoothly out of the box for what I can see.
- Post some error messages and details of installation process.
Der Bootloader konnte nicht installiert werden. Der Installationsbefehl <pre>grub-install --target=i386-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --bootloader-id=Q4OS_Andromeda --force</pre> erzeugte Fehlercode 1.

Last edited by ttsnap (2025-11-07 10:58)

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 6,109

Website

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

Der Bootloader konnte nicht installiert werden. Der Installationsbefehl <pre>grub-install --target=i386-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --bootloader-id=Q4OS_Andromeda --force</pre> erzeugte Fehlercode 1.

Do we understand correctly this is a message from the Calamares installer during the installation phase ?

Would you perform some testing please ?

- Create Q4OS live USB using a recommended method https://www.q4os.org/dqa018.html#creat and try to boot it

- Try installation of Debian 13 Trixie live Plasma iso, download https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/cu … so-hybrid/ , file "debian-live-13.1.0-amd64-kde.iso"

- Try installation using Q4OS install-cd "q4os-6.2-x64-instcd.r1.iso" , download the third option https://www.q4os.org/downloads1.html

and post back the results.

theasmitkid

Member

From: NCT of Delhi

Registered: 2025-01-26

Posts: 345

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

I've tried installing 64 bit Q4OS 5 on HP Mini 200 4301tu, and failed. The processor, atom n2600 does support 64bit but the manufacturer only supports 32bit oses. I've done all the moving bootia32.efi to boot folder n all from the 32bit Q4OS iso but no matter what, all I get is

this kernel requires an x86-64 CPU, but only detects an i686 CPU, unable to boot

so I've given up and decided to let it run windows 7 32 bits (optimised).. it has more software support than 32bit debians, and windows 10 1903 32bits (optimised) has even more software support.

---

Coding & Robotics Enthusiast | Brave & Spck Editor @ Lenovo Tab 4 8 · Android 8.1 · 2GB · 16GB

ttsnap

Member

Registered: 2025-11-07

Posts: 10

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

Der Bootloader konnte nicht installiert werden. Der Installationsbefehl <pre>grub-install --target=i386-efi --efi-directory=/boot/efi --bootloader-id=Q4OS_Andromeda --force</pre> erzeugte Fehlercode 1.

Do we understand correctly this is a message from the Calamares installer during the installation phase ?

Yes. Unfortunately that error message is not precise enough to understand the reason why it failed.
I guess it would have to do with the only 32 bit EFI bios or something. But if there would be a more precise feedback I'd know better how to continue eventually or developers would have the chance to fix an eventual problem in the iso.

I tried Q4OS imager today. The problem with other tools like Q4OS imager or rufus is that they will not allow me to boot from the HP Pro Tablet 408. Only with ventoy I was able to boot any iso.

But thanks a lot for the tip with Debian 13 Trixie Plasma, which I installed with ventoy. Although some third party drivers seemed to miss I could do a full installation on first try and also the bootloader worked directly!

In the beginning while booting there is a kernel error or something due to x86, but somehow the OS can recover and then it works. Touch an bluetooth and Wifi work out of the box. Only the virtual tastatur input is not working yet it seems.

Speed is a bit slow at times. Q4OS 32 bit or Windows 8 is snappier. But now I am able to run all the x64/amd64 programs. Great!

Maybe I'll try some more a bit lighter x64 OS soon.

Last edited by ttsnap (2025-11-07 16:15)

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 6,109

Website

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

... thanks a lot for the tip with Debian 13 Trixie Plasma, which I installed with ventoy. Although some third party drivers seemed to miss I could do a full installation on first try and also the bootloader worked!

Great. If you want to install Q4OS over Debian you can give this method https://www.q4os.org/dqa017.html a try.

We consider this a Q4OS bug and can also compile new, fixed Q4OS live .iso for testing. As we do not have any hardware to reproduce the issue, we would ask that you try installing from this media if you are willing to help us. However, we understand that this is time consuming. So please let us know when you are ready to test.

ttsnap

Member

Registered: 2025-11-07

Posts: 10

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

Yes, I'd like to test new fixed Q4OS isos for sure! If you live in Germany I could even send you a testing device if you like.

For now the debian Plasma solution is the best for me. It was also not difficult installing the maliit-keyboard. So it behaves pretty much like used from a tablet right now. Only problem remain missing drivers on debian and maybe because of that I can't adjust screen brightness. Therefore I use a dark scheme, but I guess the battery life could be improved by reducing the backlight.

In Q4OS Andromeda live medium then screen brightness / backlight also was not adjustable. But it worked directly on the 32 bit Q4OS Trinity TDE 5.8 version.

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 6,109

Website

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

Yes, I'd like to test new fixed Q4OS isos for sure!

Thanks, we will prepare a testing .iso and post here as soon as it's ready.

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 6,109

Website

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

We have uploaded two testing .isos "q4os-x64-experimental-rc001.iso" and "q4os-x64-experimental-rc002.iso" here https://sourceforge.net/projects/q4os/files/testing/. Please try to boot both on the hardware in question, use the first "live" option, install the system and post back the result.

md5sums:
64d30eadfde3de58d21ccfb3cb3264ae  q4os-x64-experimental-rc001.iso
122da8e67847c91d7227b521e7b78acf  q4os-x64-experimental-rc002.iso

ttsnap

Member

Registered: 2025-11-07

Posts: 10

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

We have uploaded two testing .isos "q4os-x64-experimental-rc001.iso" and "q4os-x64-experimental-rc002.iso" here https://sourceforge.net/projects/q4os/files/testing/. Please try to boot both on the hardware in question, use the first "live" option, install the system and post back the result.

Hi,

thanks for providing the test images.

I just tested both and here are the results:

1. Version 'q4os-x64-experimental-rc002.iso' (1.9 GB) behaved exactly the same as before with the same error message during the step for installing the bootloader within the calamares live installer.

2. Version 'q4os-x64-experimental-rc001.iso' (4.1 GB) seemed to be pretty much the Debian 13 live CD. Yesterday I had realized that the original live installer of Debian 13 also failed in my case exactly like the original Q4OS Andromeda live installer! So I expected this one to fail, too and it did! Same error message as before.

The only installation that has worked so far was with the non-live installer for original Debian 13. It seems to do something different than in the live medium.

I hope my feedback was clear and I hope you have new ideas for a solution eventually?

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 6,109

Website

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

I hope my feedback was clear ...

Yes, excellent So we can conclude Debian upstream issue. We will check for possible solution for Q4OS live, but it will take some time.

... I hope you have new ideas for a solution eventually?

Would you try installation using Q4OS install-cd "q4os-6.2-x64-instcd.r1.iso" , download the third option https://www.q4os.org/downloads1.html please ? And post back the result here.

Thanks for the valuable testing

ttsnap

Member

Registered: 2025-11-07

Posts: 10

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

Alright, no problem at all. In the meantime I can use Debian 13 which is pretty close to Q4OS Andromeda with KDE Plasma I guess.
Btw. Debian 12.12 was working, too, with the normal installer. (And with 'normal' or 'pure' installer I always mean a version of the debian live-CD you recommended me, but not booted in the OS.)

I tested q4os-6.2-x64-instcd.r1.iso today, and it also failed during the bootloader installation with message:
"[...] grub-efi-ia32 konnte nicht in target installiert werden [...]"

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 6,109

Website

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

Yes, Debian is a nice choice

We will also compile a fixed testing Q4OS "install-cd" .iso, so if you would be willing to do the same testing as before on the hardware in question, we would be grateful.

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 6,109

Website

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

We have uploaded new testing .iso "q4os-x64-experimental-rd001.iso" here https://sourceforge.net/projects/q4os/files/testing/. It's Q4OS "install-cd" type with no live option, corresponding to the Debian "netinst". We would appreciate, if you would perform a testing installation on the hardware in question.

md5sum:
6531aec20d15858f0c9dc471ba1e94d0  q4os-x64-experimental-rd001.iso

ttsnap

Member

Registered: 2025-11-07

Posts: 10

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

Hi, good news: This image was for Q4OS Trinity 6.2 and it worked without any issues for me.
Thank you so much for providing a solution and so quickly! And another highlight for me: With this version adjusting the backlight is suddenly working now, too!
And has very smooth & snappy experience for a 12 year mid to low end tablet. Didn't expect that for Debian in the latest version. When you can live with only small storage of 32GB it might be among the best linux tablets these days within the price range of 25-50 euro (refurbished).

Maybe it is possible to provide the same for Q4OS Andromeda in the latest version via this way now, too?
Because that is still interesting for me as Andromeda seems a bit more modern and tablet friendly.

Last edited by ttsnap (2025-11-13 02:43)

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 6,109

Website

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

Excellent news. Again, thanks for testing and the feedback

Maybe it is possible to provide the same for Q4OS Andromeda in the latest version via this way now, too?

Yes, we will update the official Q4OS media with this patch and release it soon.

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 6,109

Website

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

The fixed Q4OS-6 Andromeda install-cd has been released, download from the official site "q4os-6.2-x64-instcd.r2.iso"  https://www.q4os.org/downloads1.html

ttsnap

Member

Registered: 2025-11-07

Posts: 10

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

Ah, that was fast. But I actually meant Andromeda Plasma version. Is it also fixed there?

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 6,109

Website

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

No, it is not. A fix for the live media is more complicated, moreover Debian live has this issue as well.

Nonetheless, it's possible to use Q4OS "install-cd" to install Q4OS Plasma desktop:
- Complete installation from the install-cd
- As soon as Desktop profiler asks for a profile application, select Plasma as a second desktop, see the paragraph "5." https://www.q4os.org/dqa016.html#dsknv
- Reboot and login to the desktop session
- Edit /etc/q4os/q4base.conf file and modify "defaultdesktopenv=trinity" line to "defaultdesktopenv=plasma"
You will get dual desktop Plasma and Trinity, see https://www.q4os.org/dqa015.html#ddskr

Optional:
If you would want to remove Trinity desktop to keep Plasma only, just run in terminal:
$ sudo apt --purge autoremove q4os-desktop-trinity tdm-trinity

ttsnap

Member

Registered: 2025-11-07

Posts: 10

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

Thank you! That's a good solution for me!

ttsnap

Member

Registered: 2025-11-07

Posts: 10

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

What would be a valuable tool also, if an option in the install-cd were available for installing and configuring only grub. That could make already installed OS bootable, where grub installation has failed before.
Maybe there exists already a tool / iso like that.

q4osteam

Q4OS Team

Registered: 2015-12-06

Posts: 6,109

Website

Re: Try installing 64 bit version on HP Pro 408 Tablet via only 32 bit EFI

The install-cd is intended for installation only. If you want to install or repair Grub, we would recommend https://www.q4os.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=4947