I know similar questions have been asked before across several sites, but the answers at least to me have been confusing and conflicting.

My understanding has always been that 64-bit Windows will create and use GPT disks just fine, but will not boot from them without a UEFI BIOS. Also my understanding WAS that 32-bit Windows could not use GPT at all and so is always restricted to 2.2TB disks, which was another reason to move to 64-bit on top of the 4GB memory limit.

But I have now read that this isn't correct: 32-bit Windows will create and use GPT disks just as 64-bit does. The only resriction is that you can't boot 32-bit Windows even if you DO have a UEFI BIOS? I don't think much of the literature has explained this well.

There are several tools floating around for creating virtual disks or 2.2+.8GB partition schemes and such for 32-bit systems. Why when it seems you can use GPT in 32-bit Windows anyway.

It also seems that people blame MS for lagging behind with respect to all of this: but it seems the issue is with BIOS manufactures not supporting UEFI rather than MS not supporting GPT...

Is my new understanding now correct?