Cannot install 32-bit Windows 7 on a computer that has 5 GB of memory installed

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem that is described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not exist, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft website:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must be running one of the following operating systems:

• Windows 7
• Windows 7 with Service Pack 1 (SP1)

For more information about how to obtain a Windows 7 service pack or a Windows Server 2008 R2 service pack, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

976932

Information about Service Pack 1 for Windows 7 and for Windows Server 2008 R2

Installation instructions

To install this hotfix, you can use one of the following methods:

• To install this hotfix in the ordinary way, follow these steps:
  1. Remove the 1 GB memory.
  2. Install the operating system.
  3. Install the hotfix after the system installation is completed.
  4. Add the 1 GB memory back to the computer.
• To convert this hotfix into .wim files, follow these steps:
• 1. Copy the contents of the Windows installation ISO image file to a folder. For example, copy the file to C:\WorkingDir.
  2. Extract Hotfix_name.cab to a folder. For example, copy the file to C:\kb2550631.
  3. Create a temporary mount directory. For example, create C:\temp\mount.
  4. Mount Boot.wim by using a DISM command. To do this, open a Command Prompt window, type the following command, and then press Enter:
     
     DISM /mount-wim /wimfile: C:\WorkingDir\sources\Boot.wim /index:2 /mountdir:C:\temp\mount
     
     Note You may have several indexes. If there are two indexes, mount index 2. You can obtain a list of the indexes by running a DISM command. To do this, open a Command Prompt window, type the following command, and then press Enter:
     
     DISM /get-wiminfo /wimfile: C:\WorkingDir\sources\Boot.wim
     
  5. Add the package by using a DISM command. To do this, open a Command Prompt window, type the following command, and then press Enter:
     
     DISM /image:C:\temp\mount /Add-Package /PackagePath:C:\kb2550631\Hotfixname.cab
     
  6. Use a DISM command to unmount Boot.wim. To do this, open a Command Prompt window, type the following command, and then press Enter:
     
     DISM /unmount-Wim /mountdir:C:\temp\mount /commit
  7. Do the same operation to Install.wim.
     
     Note You have to specify the Windows edition for which you have a product key. For example, if you use Windows 7 Ultimate, the index number for that product is needed. Additionally, you should specify the /index:number. Otherwise, this hotfix may not be in the index that you select to install.
  8. Create the ISO file by using the Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7 or the OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK).
     
     For more information about the AIK for Windows 7, visit the following Microsoft website:
     
     
     The Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) for Windows 7
     
     For more information about the OEM Preinstallation Kit, visit the following Microsoft website:
     
     
     The Windows OEM Preinstallation Kit (Windows OPK)

Registry information

To use the hotfix in this package, you do not have to make any changes to the registry.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace a previously released hotfix.

File information

The global version of this hotfix installs files that have the attributes that are listed in the following tables. The dates and the times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The dates and the times for these files on your local computer are displayed in your local time together with your current daylight saving time (DST) bias. Additionally, the dates and the times may change when you perform certain operations on the files.

Windows 7 file information notes

Important Windows 7 hotfixes and Windows Server 2008 R2 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, hotfixes on the Hotfix Request page are listed under both operating systems. To request the hotfix package that applies to one or both operating systems, select the hotfix that is listed under "Windows 7/Windows Server 2008 R2" on the page. Always refer to the "Applies To" section in articles to determine the actual operating system to which each hotfix applies.

• The files that apply to a specific product, SR_Level (RTM, SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table.

  Version	Product	SR_Level	Service branch
  6.1.760 0. 16xxx	Windows 7	RTM	GDR
  6.1.760 0. 20xxx	Windows 7	RTM	LDR
  6.1.760 1. 17xxx	Windows 7	SP1	GDR
  6.1.760 1. 21xxx	Windows 7	SP1	LDR

• The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and the MUM files (.mum) that are installed for each environment are listed separately in the "Additional file information for Windows 7" section. MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are very important to maintaining the state of the updated components. The security catalog files, for which the attributes are not listed, are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows 7