Steam, Windows 7 - 2025 :: Steam Discussions

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Master.Constructor 15 Jun, 2024 @ 9:03am

Steam, Windows 7 - 2025

We're almost finished 2024 and we've had several Steam client updates as well as Windows 7 updates via UpdatePack7. So far Windows 7 seems to be running well and will carry me into 2025 at the very least.

I've been running Windows 7 since transitioning from XP after bypassing (and watching the fallout from) Vista. So far so good aside from DirectX12 and some driver restrictions.

I closely followed the roll-out of Win8, 8.1 and 10 waiting for a good time to transition to a newer OS, testing a few other options while I've been waiting (Linux, Windows Server, Tiny/Lite Windows). So far I haven't found anything that seems to worth the effort or privacy risks / compromise.

Windows 7 SP2/3?

In 2021 I found UpdatePack7 which is a monthly security pack for all editions of Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008R2 (seems to be in development since 2013) and have had very good results with it. There is a small ~1MB downloader program (v1.5.0.0) which will download and/or verify the update pack (~800MB). The latest release was three days ago (24.6.12) and no issues to report. It's a significant saving of bandwidth, time and drive space and I am very grateful for it's consistent and diligent development. It is essentially the SP3 that Win7 users were always waiting for.

If you're having issues on Windows 7 SP1, try running the following from CMD (as administrator) and post your results here.
chkdsk
sfc /verifyonly

Hint:
I find starting Steam offline is much faster and smoother. Here's my steps to starting Steam Offline:
1 - edit the file loginusers.vdf
... mine was located here: \Steam\config\loginusers.vdf
2 - change "WantsOfflineMode" from 0 to 1
3 - save and set file [Properties] to [Read-only]
4 - start steam to check

Also, to remove the red banner at the top I added this to my steam.exe shortcut:
-pretendeol-w10

You can get your current Windows 7 revision number by entering this in PowerShell:
(Get-ItemProperty -path "HKLM:SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion").ubr

Updates
=======
UpdatePack7 25.6.10 (Windows 6.1.7601.27769)
- Added KB5061078-x64, telemetry and CPU check disabled (replaces KB5061196-x64)
- Certificate update similar to KB931125 and KB2917500 for June 2025

UpdatePack7 25.5.17 (Windows 6.1.7601.27717)
UpdatePack7 25.4.10 (Windows 6.1.7601.27666)
UpdatePack7 25.3.12 (Windows 6.1.7601.27615)
UpdatePack7 25.2.12 (Windows 6.1.7601.27566)
UpdatePack7 25.1.15 (Windows 6.1.7601.27520)
UpdatePack7 24.12.12 (Windows 6.1.7601.27412)

Steam Version: 1730853000 (Thurs, Nov 7, 2024)
Steam API Version: SteamClient021

Last edited by Master.Constructor; 15 Jun @ 12:22pm

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Showing 1-15 of 2,705 comments

N3tRunn3r 15 Jun, 2024 @ 9:09am

As great as Windows 7 "had" been, it also "sadly" was the most insecure and vulnerable Windows OS ever, even during its peak times, and really not to mention nowadays . . .

And never trust any 3rd-party sites which host "WINDOWS UPDATES" . . . xD This should be clear since INTERNET has been invented . . . !!

Easily your OS has been infected/infiltrated/intruded and so to be used as a BOT NET, or to farm any Cryptocurrencies. ROOTKITS installed in an instant, how stupid can someone be...

This here is the official Windows 7 update catalogue:
https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=windows%207

W7 is dead aka had reached its End of Life (EoL) in 2023.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/july-11-2023-kb5028224-security-only-update-eee97447-1fd6-41a3-9757-995e978f77c5

And Windows 7 Servers in 2023~2024 (Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise ESU) . . .
which could be used as a regular OS ofc, too . . .

https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=Windows%20Server%202008%20R2

https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=Windows%20Server%202008%20R2%20ESU

Last edited by N3tRunn3r; 15 Jun, 2024 @ 9:59am

Ben Lubar 15 Jun, 2024 @ 9:12am

You already have a thread where you are advertising your unauthorized modifications to Windows. Why do you need another?

Master.Constructor 15 Jun, 2024 @ 9:13am

Originally posted by Ben Lubar:
You already have a thread where you are advertising your unauthorized modifications to Windows. Why do you need another?

This is my June Update.

Aachen 15 Jun, 2024 @ 9:15am

Originally posted by Master.Constructor:
This is my June Update.

Seems you’d do better appending it to the extant thread.

Master.Constructor 15 Jun, 2024 @ 9:29am

Originally posted by N3tRunn3r:
As great as Windows 7 "had" been, it also "sadly" was the most unsecure Windows OS ever ...

What issues have you had with Win7?

N3tRunn3r 15 Jun, 2024 @ 9:34am

I can say, Windows 7 was still supported by Microsoft as many research and science facilities had used and still use Windows 7 machines. But notice ::

THESE MACHINES ARE COMPLETELY ISOLATED FROM THE INTERNET

Vitdom 15 Jun, 2024 @ 9:49am

Just be grateful Steam doesn't remove 32-bit support like Epic Games Store...

Mountain Months 15 Jun, 2024 @ 10:10am

cool thanks for sharing!

no idea why windows 7 makes people here so agitated

its unironically the best version of windows

Komarimaru 15 Jun, 2024 @ 10:10am

Originally posted by Master.Constructor:
Originally posted by N3tRunn3r:
As great as Windows 7 "had" been, it also "sadly" was the most unsecure Windows OS ever ...

What issues have you had with Win7?

Unable to utilize any modern hardware. So thousands of products, thus useless.

Heraclius Caesar 15 Jun, 2024 @ 12:12pm

Clinging hard huh?

I'll admit, I'm a bit surprised that people are even still bothering to mention Windows 7 here after Steam dropped support. I get not liking change, especially enforced change, but wow it's just an old piece of software at the end of the day. You'll be alright.

Definitely looking forward to Steam inevitably pushing out the patch that finally makes it so Windows 7 systems simply can't access the Steam client anymore. I saw a number of folks who claimed it would happen in March but then March came and went. Hopefully by the end of this year though we won't have to hear about Windows 7 anymore and the users who hang on to it so desperately.

#10

Dagnabbit 15 Jun, 2024 @ 12:57pm

I read the patch notes every time a new beta update drops, waiting for "Updated CEF version to XYZ" because those Windows 7 tears are gonna be D E L I C I O U S.

#11

Master.Constructor 15 Jun, 2024 @ 2:08pm

Originally posted by N3tRunn3r:
I can say, Windows 7 was still supported by Microsoft as many research and science facilities had used and still use Windows 7 machines. But notice ::

THESE MACHINES ARE COMPLETELY ISOLATED FROM THE INTERNET

All my Windows 7 PCs are on the internet and in use every day.

#12

Master.Constructor 15 Jun, 2024 @ 2:10pm

Originally posted by Heraclius Caesar:
Clinging hard huh?

I'll admit, I'm a bit surprised that people are even still bothering to mention Windows 7 here after Steam dropped support. I get not liking change, especially enforced change, but wow it's just an old piece of software at the end of the day. You'll be alright.

Definitely looking forward to Steam inevitably pushing out the patch that finally makes it so Windows 7 systems simply can't access the Steam client anymore. I saw a number of folks who claimed it would happen in March but then March came and went. Hopefully by the end of this year though we won't have to hear about Windows 7 anymore and the users who hang on to it so desperately.

Thanks for stopping by.

#13

Blims! 15 Jun, 2024 @ 2:42pm

I'm using Windows 11 at the moment, and I can say it's terrible and it's getting worse.
It's getting more loaded with bloat and ads that you've not asked for, that you just tweak and disable anyway.

For example the 24h2 update with the infamous Recall feature, and Bitlock being turned on as default without user consent on a clean install, even in Home editions. Thankfully for things like Rufus exist

Windows 7 was the last great OS they made.
If only all game devs started to make all their games native Linux supported, with Vulkan or OpenGL instead of DirectX, that would be wonderfull.

Last edited by Blims!; 15 Jun, 2024 @ 2:43pm

#14