The following tools are renowned for their compatibility with 32-bit Windows systems and their robust free feature sets:

: This is a versatile, all-in-one multimedia converter that supports video, audio, and even image files. It is frequently recommended for Windows 8.1 users due to its ability to handle nearly any file extension while remaining lightweight. You can download the latest compatible version from Format Factory's official site.

: While current versions of HandBrake are 64-bit only, legacy versions like 1.0.7 specifically support 32-bit Windows 8.1. It is widely considered the best open-source tool for high-quality transcoding. Find older versions on the HandBrake Github repository.