Guide on how to run the game on windows 7, 8 or 8.1

[DeadEye]

First you'll want to go to this site and do steps 1 and 3 (personally I didn't do step 3 and it works for me)
https://rentry.org/7fix
Install explorer suite and then open it (specifically cff explorer)
go into your local files for palworld and then navigate to the exe file for palworld
(palworld > pal > binaries > win64)
In here you're looking at "Palworld-Win64-Shipping.exe", drag and drop this file into your explorer suite window and click no if a popup appears asking about loading only the first 40mb
when you are in navigate to: Import directory > Kernel32, in the window that appears find a row that says "CreateFile2", double click this and rename it to "CreateFileW"
make sure to save the exe after this is done


next you will need to get dxvk and vkd3d, you can get them here:
https://github.com/HansKristian-Work/vkd3d-proton/releases
https://github.com/Sporif/dxvk-async/releases

you will need to check which version you need to use by checking your gpu's driver version, you can check this here: https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk/wiki/Driver-support

I personally used the 1.10.3 version of dxvk and 2.6 version of vkd3d, you will also need to install 7-zip zstd as vkd3d uses an odd compression format that the normal version of 7-zip is incompatible with, you can find the releases of this software here:
https://github.com/mcmilk/7-Zip-zstd/releases

unzip dxvk and vkd3d and use the x64 files, inside both folders you will find .dll files, you will need to copy these files over into: palworld > pal > binaries > win64

finally go into the properties of palworld on the steam launcher and in the command line argument type in "-dx11"

once this is done you should be able to launch the game on windows 7, 8, 8.1 or other operating systems

(if you are coming into this thread to suggest any combination of "go to windows 10/11" or "use linux" please think about the fact that suggesting those is not a solution to "making the game work on windows 7, 8 or 8.1")

[Knee]

Originally posted by DeadEye:

Originally posted by Knee:

Most come with basic already-installed GUI file explorer tools (off the top of my head I can think of Nautilus released with Ubuntu 14.04 which was released 10 years ago). But ironic of you to complain about doing more steps to achieve the same thing given the current thread topic .

no complaints here I'm just not ever using lincucks in my life, btw what compelled you to go into a thread called "how to make this software work on Z" and comment "why don't you use Y instead"? It's exactly the same thing all the "just upgrade" redditors do

I didn’t do that. Just simply corrected the false hyperbole that Linux is complicated while pointing out the hypocrisy of bending over backwards to make something compatible (such as downloading/building something from 4 separate github repos) where it would otherwise be incompatible. If you’re battling for simplicity, this isn’t it.

[Wolfguarde]

Originally posted by DeadEye:

Originally posted by Wolfguarde:

Linux Mint is also a viable candidate for your steam games. Just need to make sure you tick everything to run in compatibility mode with Proton. It's not perfect - you're still compromising your privacy to be able to play steam games - but it's a hell of a lot less terrible than using a windows OS.

There's probably better Linux distros out there that address the issues Mint doesn't, but I'm currently too poor to buy more drives to do proper testing with, so Mint's all I can point you to.

sorry I prefer double clicking over typing fifty lines of code to open up a folder lmao

What a coincidence, so do I! Which is why I'm using Mint instead of another Linux distro for the moment.

[DeadEye]

Originally posted by Knee:

Originally posted by DeadEye:

no complaints here I'm just not ever using lincucks in my life, btw what compelled you to go into a thread called "how to make this software work on Z" and comment "why don't you use Y instead"? It's exactly the same thing all the "just upgrade" redditors do

I didn’t do that. Just simply corrected the false hyperbole that Linux is complicated while pointing out the hypocrisy of bending over backwards to make something compatible (such as downloading/building something from 4 separate github repos) where it would otherwise be incompatible. If you’re battling for simplicity, this isn’t it.

oh god bending so far backwards for what was about, 5 minutes of moving files and editing an exe, oh so excruciating and definitely more work then installing and learning an entirely new os, ♥♥♥♥ off lincucks

[DeadEye]

Originally posted by Wolfguarde:

Originally posted by DeadEye:

sorry I prefer double clicking over typing fifty lines of code to open up a folder lmao

What a coincidence, so do I! Which is why I'm using Mint instead of another Linux distro for the moment.

cool but this is a thread about making a game work on windows, not a thread to shill lincucks

[Pom Pom]

Originally posted by DeadEye:

Hey guys do you think "use linux" people as worse as "windows 7 is a security risk" people? lmao

I dual boot windows 7 and linux :D

[DeadEye]

Originally posted by nineret:

Originally posted by DeadEye:

Hey guys do you think "use linux" people as worse as "windows 7 is a security risk" people? lmao

I dual boot windows 7 and linux :D

nice I dual windows 7 and 10

[Arkanu of Galatiel]

Originally posted by DeadEye:

Hey guys do you think "use linux" people as worse as "windows 7 is a security risk" people? lmao

Not quite, as the linux crowd didn't enable all the tomfoolery that resulted in devs doing things that made programs incompatible. (When MS strong armed windows users into using windows 10, most of them did nothing to fight back, or at least enough that MS felt comfortable steamrolling windows 7 support completely).

That being said though, I wish up-and-coming linux devs would create that one distro that actually kicked windows 10 and 11 off their high horses (without having to install proton and WINE and then bashing your head against the desk wondering why your games aren't working. Imo Linux really got the short end of the stick in this regard).

[Wolfguarde]

Originally posted by DeadEye:

Originally posted by Wolfguarde:

What a coincidence, so do I! Which is why I'm using Mint instead of another Linux distro for the moment.

cool but this is a thread about making a game work on windows, not a thread to shill lincucks

Which makes your salt at someone suggesting a more viable alternative with significantly less spyware packed into it all the more amusing. But hey - each to their own. I'm sure you'll find someone who'll play along and take the bait eventually.

[DeadEye]

Originally posted by Wolfguarde:

Originally posted by DeadEye:

cool but this is a thread about making a game work on windows, not a thread to shill lincucks

Which makes your salt at someone suggesting a more viable alternative with significantly less spyware packed into it all the more amusing. But hey - each to their own. I'm sure you'll find someone who'll play along and take the bait eventually.

what bait you're the guys coming into a thread about how to make a game work on a very specific set of operating systems then suggesting something that is not how to make the game work on those very specific operating systems, can you all really not help yourselves? Literally the same ♥♥♥♥ as the "upgrade to windows 10/11" redditors holay molay

[Wolfguarde]

My dude, in case you haven't noticed, I was one of the posters here ragging on W10/11. The fact that you're going incendiary at someone for mentioning an alternative OS that solves the same core issues a lot of people reading this guide have with later windows operating systems (and rightfully should have with earlier ones, too) means you either have a chip on your shoulder or enjoy baiting arguments. I assume you have sufficient emotional intelligence to not attack people for sharing information that might be helpful in solving their issue, and therefore assume it's the latter.

Either way, I'm not particularly interested in a salt flinging contest here. Have a good day.

[DeadEye]

Originally posted by Wolfguarde:

My dude, in case you haven't noticed, I was one of the posters here ragging on W10/11. The fact that you're going incendiary at someone for mentioning an alternative OS that solves the same core issues a lot of people reading this guide have with later windows operating systems (and rightfully should have with earlier ones, too) means you either have a chip on your shoulder or enjoy baiting arguments. I assume you have sufficient emotional intelligence to not attack people for sharing information that might be helpful in solving their issue, and therefore assume it's the latter.

Either way, I'm not particularly interested in a salt flinging contest here. Have a good day.

I'm not 'your dude' and throw about another 10 ad hominems in there I'm sure it'll help your nothing point, the core issue of this thread is "making the game work on 7, 8 and 8.1" it is actually insane that you cannot understand that "suggesting lincucks" is not a solution to "making the game work on 7, 8 or 8.1", at that point make your own thread saying "go to linux" instead of trying to hijack this one ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

[Parenthesis]

Hello, there seems to be an additional complication for some computers running Windows 7. It's about NVIDIA Quadro GPU's. I read through many pages of people saying get windows 10 and similar things, and I did not see this mentioned, though I was somewhat skimming and could have missed it.

The "Driver support" page for DXVK says:
DXVK 1.10.3
Legacy versions of DXVK require a Vulkan 1.1 capable driver.

Driver 	Required version 	Recommended version
AMD (RADV) 	20.2 	22.0
Nvidia       	470.82 	510.47.03
Intel (ANV) 	22.0 	22.0

So the minimum Nvidia driver version it says is compatible is 470.82. From what Nvidia's online driver finding service (https://www.nvidia.com/en-gb/drivers/) says, on Windows 7, the newest driver version that works on a Quadro, even a P4000 from 2017, is too old. Meanwhile a GeForce GTX 770 from 2013 is compatible with a sufficiently new driver.

   	Windows 7	Windows 10	Linux
Quadro	441.66   	553.24   	550.127.05
GeForce	475.14   	475.14   	470.256.02

I am concerned that this likely means Windows 7 can not run Palworld with a Quadro GPU.

[DragShot]

Originally posted by Parenthesis:

Hello, there seems to be an additional complication for some computers running Windows 7. It's about NVIDIA Quadro GPU's. I read through many pages of people saying get windows 10 and similar things, and I did not see this mentioned, though I was somewhat skimming and could have missed it.

[...]

I am concerned that this likely means Windows 7 can not run Palworld with a Quadro GPU.

Interesting. I didn't know there were more limitations for Quadro video cards when it comes to drivers. Good thing most Steam players use RTX cards on their PCs, but yes, I suppose this might be bad news for some laptop users.

[Parenthesis]

Actually it turns out that driver 475.14 is actually compatible with a Quadro GPU. You just have to gaslight the installer into not gaslighting you into thinking it isn't, by editing the nv_dispi.inf file to include your GPU. Unfortunately it has some drawbacks, and in my case I would not be able to play Palworld properly.
I followed instructions from https://forums.guru3d.com/threads/nvidia-inf-driver-modding-guide.377158/. Another way to get the 4-digit hexadecimal code number for your GPU is to go Computer Management -> Device Manager -> Display adapters -> your GPU -> Details -> "Hardware Ids" in the "Property" dropdown menu. This should tell you the four character code number for your GPU. My Quadro K2000's is 0FFE, as in "PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0FFE&CC_0300".

When you install the driver, though, it warns you it doesn't have a valid certificate. This is because you edited the nv_dispi.inf file, so the files aren't all the same. It gives an error message in Event Viewer. It's to protect you from malware. One option is to install it anyway. Then you'll need to disable Driver Signature Enforcement, which is there to protect from malware, if you want to use an unsigned driver.

Another option is to sign the driver yourself.
An easy way to do this is to use NVCleanstall like described here https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/nvidias-rtx-drivers-support-windows-7-but-blacklist-8-1-install.293507/#post-4730235.
A harder way is to make your own certificate with makecert and sign the driver (or just the one .cat file that lists nv_dispi.inf ?) with signtool, both of which are part of Windows 7 SDK. To install Windows 7 SDK you need to uninstall visual c++ 2010 and temporarily change two registry values like it says on stackoverflow.
You will also need to turn testsigning on to use a self-signed driver, because normally windows won't accept a self-signed GPU driver. This is to protect from malware. There will be the error "Signing Cert does not chain to a Microsoft Root Cert.".

Another option is to buy a commercial certificate. That's a no for most people because it would cost money.

I don't know what windows 10's attestation signing is. Having a Windows 10 VM just to send a driver to Microsoft and get it signed would cost money.

Another option is to get a different GPU. Another option is to switch driver depending on what game you plan to run. Other options are to upgrade to upgrade to Windows 10 or 11, or dual boot Linux

---

Benefits: With this PC, which has a Quadro K2000, the driver works. The PC can run Crysis. Maybe the security updates in the newer driver work too.

Shortcomings: I tested if it would be able to run Palworld, but although the game would be able to start, some textures would fail to load, and letters could be switched for weird looking symbols, which I remember reading is a RAM problem in another game. I don't know if a newer Quadro GPU would be suitable.

Costs: If you disable Driver Signature Enforcement, that's probably a security risk. If you enable self-signed certificates, maybe that's a security risk too. My main problem with both of these options is that it makes another game not work. Maybe its anticheat rejects custom drivers.

---

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2504035/security-flaws-found-in-all-nvidia-geforce-gpus-update-drivers-asap.html
https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5586/~/security-bulletin%3A-nvidia-gpu-display-driver---october-2024
So NVIDIA GPU drivers have high severity security vulnerabilities. The only windows driver branches patched are R565, R560, R555, R550, and R535. The latest Windows 7 GeForce driver, 475.14, was released in July this year, a little over 3 months before this report.