stupid god damn server. i just spent half an hour writing how to bloodywell do it and got a server error when submitting and lost the lot. Stuff it!
Do a search on Autodesk's website, that's how i found out how to do it!...oh all right here i go again....
The Autodesk installers automatically check your O/S to determine whether you should have a 32 bit or 64 bit installation of 3ds Max. The way to override that is as follows...
1. Perform a standard installation (This is important, regardless of whether your Windows 7 or Windows 8 Operating System is 32 bit or 64 bit)
2. During the early stages of the install process you will come to a screen that shows what components are to be installed (they will have check boxes next to them on left hand side)
Unckeck any boxes with adjoining text containing words "64 bit" in them
3. Continue installation as normal. Once done you will have a 32 bit installation regardless of O/S being 32 or 64 bit! (don't forget to choose the configure installation option so you get the SP1 update)
This works for the installers used from 2010-2012 on almost all Autodesk products as far as i know. Dont know about Studio Max 2013. I have installed 2013, but since the AcesTools apparently dont work in Studio Max 2013, i went for the stock installation on my 64 bit Win 8 O/S...which defaulted Studio Max 64 bit version (and no im not using it for prepar3d modelling at this stage)
hope this much shortened version is of help to someone!