Steam Launcher not working on Windows 7?

[Button Eyes]

For the last 2 weeks, I've been unable to get my Steam Launcher to work properly on my Win7 desktop PC. The launcher opens, but connection to Friends network always fails. Other tabs load very poorly, broken texts and all, but it works fine on my Mozilla browser.

What causes this? Did a recent update broke Steam's support to Win7, or what?

[Zekiran]

No, been using 7 all along, been fine for me.

Maybe try reinstalling the client?

[Jaunitta 🌸]

No its working as intended using W7 as well.

Go to Steam in Programfiles x 86, delete everything except for the " STEAM.EXE"
and the STEAMAPPS where our games are stored
and USER DATA. where our screenshots are stored.

Then just click on the Steam.exe it will download all the files required.
Right click the Steam.exe and run as admin see if its solved now.

[JVC]

It still works on my Win 7 machine.

[Elucidator]

Root certificate trust store issues, likely.
Because windows 7 hasn't received updates ina long time it probably didn't receive instructions to trust newer SSL methods.

[Button Eyes]

Elucidator님이 먼저 게시:

Root certificate trust store issues, likely.
Because windows 7 hasn't received updates ina long time it probably didn't receive instructions to trust newer SSL methods.

This is kinda sad. Does it mean that one day it's possible for Steam to no longer be playable on Win7/Vista/XP?

[Zekiran]

Button Eyes님이 먼저 게시:

Elucidator님이 먼저 게시:

Root certificate trust store issues, likely.
Because windows 7 hasn't received updates ina long time it probably didn't receive instructions to trust newer SSL methods.

This is kinda sad. Does it mean that one day it's possible for Steam to no longer be playable on Win7/Vista/XP?

Well just like they already stopped support for XP, yes of course, eventually.

But for the moment, it works FINE, on our W7 devices.

So... something on your end is broken.

[Iceira]

Im sure you might got the ssl through a browser update or other app, but it dont fix itself.

You cant install a fresh win7 and then think it work, you need a app with the new ssl certificates or update it yourself, im not so sure MS will fix it as last update. then lifecycle is over.

[Zekiran]

That's a super big assumption that that is the problem. It's very, very likely that something in their install just needs to be reinstalled, not windows.

[Elucidator]

I think Zekiran refered to Steam itself. It works fine, likely.
What I refered to what Steam Friends which is HTML/Web based nonsense loaded it through the Steam Browser (chromium).

I would suggest you to try Firefox and run Steam Friends in that browser. It should work, and if that works, its very likely the SSL certificate issue I mentioned.
(small edit: I somehow forgot the part you mentioned you already confirmed this.)

The reason why Firefox works is because its programmed to trust newer root certificates and yes, these 'trust issues' can be different per program. Although they tend to use the same store, the main 'database' basically that is used by your pc. You can manually install a few certificates yourself that could potentially replace it or force your system to trust newer certs, but idk if that will extend to the chromium browser used by the Steam Client.

The problematic certificate is DST Root CA X3, which has two providers. (you can look it up in certlm, which provider your system has). This certificate recently expired.
There are a couple of newer ones. Updates normally ensure that the newer ones get trusted. (they may already be installed.)
but yeah.
anyway firefox will trust newer certs.

Edit: fyi
Windows 7 has many versions.
Most people that converted their Windows XP SP2 machine went to Windows 7 and stayed there.
Its possible its due to that. At its core its still using elements and settings of Windows XP SP2.
Clean Windows 7 systems will not likely be affected, but upgraded (to windows 7) will.



Edit 2 :
I had to look up the official route on how to install them, which is a bit complicated, but still. Here's a very late edit as such.

First, if anything, just check 'certmng' and see if you have ISRG Root X1. If not, you may need to download and install it.

Grab at least: https://letsencrypt.org/certs/isrgrootx1.pem
Some people have been recommending grabbing two more from letsencrypt.
https://letsencrypt.org/certs/isrg-root-x2.pem
https://letsencrypt.org/certs/lets-encrypt-r3.pem
I don't have the last two.
You can also get the one from IdenTrust https://www.identrust.com/support/downloads
(You need the commercial root certificate for individuals, if you get the one from there. xd
installing this one is also easier. Just right click, install, etc. Anyway...)

The following steps are done at your own risk. I recommend scanning files and such just to be sure, and such. Anyway... to install the certificates:

Open MMC (Microsoft Management Console)
press CTRL+M
Select Certificates
Click Add
Select Computer Account
Select Local
hit OK
Open the directory tree and right click on Trusted Root Certification Authorities
mouse-over All Tasks, hit Import
follow the instructions there to import the certificates.
Once done, go back to MMC

Hit CTRL+M again and add the group policy object editor
Select the Local Computer object and hit okay.
Go to: Local Computer Policy > Computer Configuration > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Public Key Policies
Here, double click on Certificate Path Validation Settings and then hit Stores tab
Check Define these policy settings
Check Allow user trusted root CAs to be used to validate certificates
Check Allow users to trust peer trust certificates
Make sure under "Root CAs that the client computers can trust" that Third Party and Enterprise Root CAs is selected.

Hit Apply, OK. You're done.

Edit 3: It should now work normally. If not, you may need to remove the old expired certificate. Let me know the results ;p


Edit 4: (11 hours after Edit 3)
I uh... realized you will also need Baltimore CyberTrust Root which you can get here: https://www.digicert.com/kb/digicert-root-certificates.htm
its because of cloudflare which steam uses instead of Akamai. If you have Steam through cloudflare then this is the root cert you mainly need instead of isrg root x1.

[Button Eyes]

Jaunitta 🌸님이 먼저 게시:

No its working as intended using W7 as well.

Go to Steam in Programfiles x 86, delete everything except for the " STEAM.EXE"
and the STEAMAPPS where our games are stored
and USER DATA. where our screenshots are stored.

Then just click on the Steam.exe it will download all the files required.
Right click the Steam.exe and run as admin see if its solved now.

Tried this method, sadly still doesn't work... Library tab looks normal but Store, Profile, etc still broken.

Also, all my Steam game's desktop icons are suddenly blank???

[Able Jones]

Button Eyes님이 먼저 게시:

Also, all my Steam game's desktop icons are suddenly blank???

That's because you deleted the "Program Files\Steam\steam\games" folder, which is where your Steam icons were stored.

They should refresh as you play, if not try validating the files.

[Gari]

I found this video...i try it and he fix problems with chat and friend list (finally online) but browsing dont work, its not perfect but it is little help..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDgBm-cunno

[Elucidator]

Gari님이 먼저 게시:

its not perfect but it is little help..

The thread is kinda old. In the mean time i learned a lot about the whole root certification expiration problem. Had you opened a new thread I would have likely put down a different instruction basically.

These are the ones you need, though you need to install them manually:

https://www.digicert.com/kb/digicert-root-certificates.htm
Baltimore CyberTrust Root CA
DigiCert Global Root CA
DigiCert High Assurance EV Root CA

and from here https://letsencrypt.org/certificates/:
ISRG Root X1

After you managed to do that, things should be fixed. If they are not, just keep telling people.
---

Insignia님이 먼저 게시:

Your entire computer is vulnerable. Not sure why people are still using windows 7 when it's not supported anymore. I sure hope you don't have any personal information stored on it. (Taxes, bank, ect.)

I disagree. Yes, its true that people likely know how to hack it, but the scale of windows 7 users is so little, that he/she doesn't risk much, so long they obviously follow some basic security rules.

The most vulnerable part for a regular user is the browser. Browsers receive updates, as well as all of the addons they use, which also receive updates.
due to these updates, the user, no matter how old the OS is, is likely safe.

OS vulnerabilities are only of concern if you think someone will break into your house or tries to jack your system. (if you get scammed by an indian scamming company or something)
and the thing is, usually it happens anyway, even with the newest OS. (its a user error)

small edit: (keep in mind, the same goes for an antivirus scanner or firewall software. If windows doesn't update defender, you can just take a 3rd party one)

---
Edit:
Oh the horror. I made a mistake in that 'guide' I gave before in this thread.
I said ctrl+r where it should be windows-key+r.
>.>; I hope no one had issues due this.

[Rainbow Dash]

Gari님이 먼저 게시:

I found this video...i try it and he fix problems with chat and friend list (finally online) but browsing dont work, its not perfect but it is little help..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDgBm-cunno

Thank you!.

Finally (was struggiling with it for around 2years) got rid of annoying chat pop-up every time i launched steam. Also steam seems to load perfectly fine now (store and everything else was usually blank, with exception to library).

[Elucidator]

does that mean my text walls are too big?