Another angry thread about the planned Windows 7 discontinuation

[muchmore777]

you better remove the chrome integration than removing steam from windows 7.
so many will lose trust in steam now, even many which are not using windows 7 anymore. but it shows the fragility of the the whole "gaming as a service thing".

there are a ton of threads already but i want it to be one more as a big dislike so i needed to do this post.

[vgifford]

Publicado originalmente por N3tRunn3r:

Publicado originalmente por vgifford:

Thank you for confirming. FEAR. I don't want to upgrade into a paperweight.

I could care less which operating system it is. I don't want to click UPGRADE then have a worthless paperweight at the end.

I suggest you upgrade and await completion after some minutes. It downloads a complete ISO/Install Media in background and upgrades your machine afterwards.

Whenever you upgraded successfully, restart your machine (again) and let Windows 10 search for latest stable drivers.

Then you can backup your important files and do a fresh and clean install of Windows 10.

First do the upgrade, then on anytime later a clean install.

Here is a neat and short tutorial stright from Microsoft:
Windows 10/11 Clean Installation Process[www.microsoft.com]

Process is really easy. All you need is an empty 8 GB USB stick. Check that link which I given above. A clear tutorial. Get Windows 11 Media Creation Tool. That link is also on that page.

Once your USB is ready and set with all stuff followed by that tutorial, restart your machine by holding down the SHIFT key to enter the install/recovery menu which is shown at 02:40.

You had previously given me this link:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

This should do it right? Just an upgrade, not a clean install.

[N3tRunn3r]

Publicado originalmente por vgifford:

You had previously given me this link:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

This should do it right? Just an upgrade, not a clean install.

Absolutely correct. Do a upgrade not a fresh install in first case.

On this page, make also sure to fit your native language, if english isnt. Just remove "en-us" from link like:

https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10

And it finds and selects your native language.

Hit the "Download Now" button.


Then, expand the info:

Using the tool to create installation media (USB flash drive, DVD, or ISO file) to install Windows 10 on a different PC (click to show more or less information)

And follow given steps.

It even shows below:

Your current edition of Windows
Windows 7 Starter
Windows 7 Home Basic
Windows 7 Home Premium
Windows 7 Professional
Windows 7 Ultimate
Windows 8/8.1
Windows 8.1 with Bing
Windows 8 Pro
Windows 8.1 Pro
Windows 8/8.1 Professional with Media Center
Windows 8/8.1 Single Language
Windows 8 Single Language with Bing
Windows 10 Home
Windows 10 Pro

[vgifford]

What's the USB for? I don't know if I have one.

NM: Found one.

[N3tRunn3r]

USB is needed for clean install. Doesnt matter now. You will "upgrade now", so all install files will be on your system stored.

Click the "Download Now" button to "Create Windows 10 installation media" with the downloaded file "MediaCreationTool22H2".

[Ocelote.12]

Is this legal for people who don't have a valid Win10 license key or a Win10 account tied to their e-mail?

I know Microsoft probably technically allows to install Win10/11 but also it technically allows to use very cheap keys of unknown origin you can buy on the Internet, while Microsoft representatives say many times that using the keys of unknown origin is illegal.

[vgifford]

Publicado originalmente por N3tRunn3r:

USB is needed for clean install. Doesnt matter now.

Click the "Download Now" button to "Create Windows 10 installation media" with the downloaded file "MediaCreationTool22H2".

How do I determine WHICH version on Windows 8.1 I have? Is it exactly what it says in "This PC > Properties" ?

[pasa]

Publicado originalmente por Crazy Tiger:

Other than that, what makes this time special? It's the 4th time now that Steam drops support for operating systems, so I'm curious.

Is that a trick question? This far the support was dropped for actually sub-par OS version. At the time most users already abandoned it -- and move forward was a win.
And with all that it was still a major ass move deliberately refusing to have a browser-less launcher.

Now the remaining IB is much higher (the zombies keep quoting that 1% completely bogus figure). Moving forward is strictly bad for anyone didn't yet move. Those still using DDR3 era or older hardware only get massive hit on performance, ugly looks, less control, spyware and MORE relevant security issues. (W10 is approaching its final state just now, might get on par with final W7 5-6 years in the future, safe bet steam will drop it before that; W11 continues to GAIN new problems every half year...)

[vgifford]

Publicado originalmente por Xenofontos12:

Is this legal for people who don't have a valid Win10 license key or a Win10 account tied to their e-mail?

I know Microsoft probably technically allows to install Win10/11 but also it technically allows to use very cheap keys of unknown origin you can by on the Internet, while Microsoft representatives say many times that using the keys of unknown origin is illegal.

You might need the product key. N3tRunn3r knows that CMD command.

[N3tRunn3r]

Publicado originalmente por vgifford:

How do I determine WHICH version on Windows 8.1 I have?

WIN+R

msinfo32.exe

[vgifford]

Publicado originalmente por N3tRunn3r:

Publicado originalmente por vgifford:

How do I determine WHICH version on Windows 8.1 I have?

WIN+R

msinfo32.exe

Thank you. Could you re-post how to find the product key, someone asked.

[N3tRunn3r]

Publicado originalmente por Xenofontos12:

Is this legal for people who don't have a valid Win10 license key or a Win10 account tied to their e-mail?

I know Microsoft probably technically allows to install Win10/11 but also it technically allows to use very cheap keys of unknown origin you can buy on the Internet, while Microsoft representatives say many times that using the keys of unknown origin is illegal.

We may not discuss this on Steam.

You need to search the web for more intel.

What OS are you running atm? Maybe I can give some "grey-zone" tips however.

If you currently use W7/8.x, you can upgrade to 10 and even 11.

So also what I can tell is, Windows 10 and 11 can be used without a valid license key. After some time some funtions will be locked as a custom backround and stuff as well as a Watermark is branded. In past Windows had become locked, this is not the matter for W10/11 anymore. So besides some disabled functions, Windows 10/11 is literally for free.

Publicado originalmente por vgifford:

Thank you. Could you re-post how to find the product key, someone asked.

https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/11/3543798390534750743/#c3543798390535980325

Please dont "necro" that thread and post here instead.

[vgifford]

Publicado originalmente por N3tRunn3r:

Publicado originalmente por Xenofontos12:

Is this legal for people who don't have a valid Win10 license key or a Win10 account tied to their e-mail?

I know Microsoft probably technically allows to install Win10/11 but also it technically allows to use very cheap keys of unknown origin you can buy on the Internet, while Microsoft representatives say many times that using the keys of unknown origin is illegal.

We may not discuss this on Steam.

You need to search the web for more intel.

What OS are you running atm? Maybe I can give some "grey-zone" tips however.

There was a CMD command you gave me a few days ago to determine my OS's OEM key... Do you remember?

Found it:

Publicado originalmente por N3tRunn3r:

Publicado originalmente por vgifford:

Where do I find my OEM Key? Product ID ??

During upgrade, your license key stays. A upgrade is recommended at first. However:


Press the Windows key and type (without quotes) "cmd". When you press Enter, Windows opens a Command Prompt window. Type the following and press Enter. Command Prompt will then display the OEM key for your computer.

wmic path softwarelicensingservice get OA3xOriginalProductKey

[N3tRunn3r]

I edited my post above. Also check that "NirSoft" part in that particular linked thread.
(Please don't necro it)

Via upgrade, you dont need to have your license key ready.
It will automatically be "transfered", if you like.

However:

Extracting your license keys

• press Win-Key + R
  
• type & enter:
  

  cmd

• inside "Command Prompt" type following to extract your OEM license key and press enter:
  

  wmic path SoftwareLicensingService get OA3xOriginalProductKey

• to show your "partial" key, if OEM or RETAIL, enter following into cmd:
  

  slmgr /dli
  
  slmgr /dlv

The "Installation ID" shown by the extended /dlv command is your license key "encrypted" and can be useful for phone activation via Win + R, cmd, slui 4

There also exist a little tool called Product Key Scanner - by NirSoft.[www.nirsoft.net]
It shows all of your installed Microsoft licenses for you, to backup. Highly recommended.

[vgifford]

Feeling safer as we go. You know... Steam Support should be explaining this to users, but their customer service support gives much different replies.

[N3tRunn3r]

Publicado originalmente por vgifford:

Feeling safer as we go. You know... Steam Support should be explaining this to users, but their customer service support gives much different replies.

Steam won't do that without a contract with Microsoft.. Steam would "advertise" by doing so and then also would need to explain this same story for MacOS users as well as Linux users.

And Linux is a professional area in where many configurations need to be made and explained.. one page wont be enough for a tutorial..

It is easier to just warn users to do a upgrade soon.