Request of understanding from Valve and Community alike regarding Windows 7/8/8.1 Support

[Chesmu]

I'm creating this thread for a realistic look at the situation without taking any sides. I hope everyone thinks this through and considers some options.

What can users do about this change at Steam:
Let's be realistic! No one has the time, energy or money to sue a big private company for something like this, and the ones who have those, are already capable of upgrading their systems or buying new ones; Apart from rude nature of such reaction, it doesn't help anything.

We can request Valve to consider new options for us, create possible situations that helps us use workarounds to continue using Steam on old OS.

Why should Valve consider such helpful actions for old OS users?
It's not gonna be because of they are afraid or because it hurts someone's wallets, but because we are asking as users to keep it real and independent. I'm sure Valve had a reason to be a Private company; There most be someone in there that likes to keep it real and unique, so I'm requesting Valve, even tho it's not their fault, to help make Steam compatible with as much versions of different OS as possible for the sake of gaming and to help fellow humans, and also to stand out!

Soon big companies such as Microsoft will own everything (if they haven't already), and when they decide something that you don't like, you'll not be able to react without losing everything. So please stand out and provide a real gaming platform for us and next generations and also a creative and unique job for your employees where they can blossom without constantly checking their obligations to other company's requests.

Why we like old OS?
Newer doesn't mean better. Modern also doesn't mean better. it just means "present moment"!

New OS tries to mimic smart phones. It has a lot of empty space in UI. Older OS is compact and to the point and as a gamer you need performance, not to read the news or check if it's gonna rain tomorrow. But not everyone that uses Windows is a gamer, which is why having open options and compatibility for all versions old and new is a nice thing.

Technology is a good thing but after some point, they push their luck and paint the technology with new colors just for sake of it; it's not progress or innovation or invention; it's just fashion with pure economy and business focus. Your security will be the same, features maybe even worse, but your privacy definitely gets weaker and weaker due to forced feedback and info collection in almost everything.

Some games don't respond well with different versions of OS; it could be due to massive amounts of RAM and resources the OS consumes or forced background tasks or just bad scripting of it.

Conclusion: Even if not in 239 days, I ask Valve again to develop independent strategies to be free of mainstream tech companies and create possibilities in future to use Steam (or at-least a simple possibility of launching the games we own, online) on Windows 7/8/8.1 Compatibility is very important in gaming.

[Wolf Knight]

what people can do is update to a supported OS and stop whining. Microsoft stopped supporting the OS, complain to them. go and have Microsoft update the older OS's to use what steam needs to have supported.

[Chesmu]

It's definitely not Valve's fault, still they decided to go with Microsoft at first, for whatever reason. I'm requesting them to become independent or at-least help us use old OS without dropping Microsoft if it's not possible for them.

[Wolf Knight]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Chesmu:

It's definitely not Valve's fault, still they decided to go with Microsoft at first, for whatever reason. I'm requesting them to become independent or at-least help us use old OS without dropping Microsoft if it's not possible for them.

you do not need a windows OS to use steam. did you miss that part of the requirements for steam?

the older windows OS's dont support what steam needs supported. linux is an option for people to use if they dont want to update to a newer version of windows. and most of the computers people use with 7 will have no problems running windows 10.

[Chompman]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Chesmu:

It's definitely not Valve's fault, still they decided to go with Microsoft at first, for whatever reason. I'm requesting them to become independent or at-least help us use old OS without dropping Microsoft if it's not possible for them.

Steam supports windows OS because when steam launched in 2003 windows OS was over 90% market share of what was being used and that is a very important reason.

[Chesmu]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Wolf Knight:

the older windows OS's dont support what steam needs supported.

It's actually Microsoft not supporting its own previous product, as you said Microsoft did this and I should complain to them instead, Steam is running good as is.

The only problem is Microsoft turning whatever it touches to its own product, including Steam. So it has the power to out-date another company's software without a good reason, and that's not good.

[Haruspex]

Every single complaint Windows 7 and 8 users have about Windows 10 and 11 is completely mitigated by just switching to Linux.

[Chesmu]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Harusp3x:

Every single complaint Windows 7 and 8 users have about Windows 10 and 11 is completely mitigated by just switching to Linux.

I know that is an option but Linux is complicated and open source, it's not easy or safe to use, definitely has some things to do before and after installing. Simply it requires IT knowledge, I'll try learning to use it the right way but my request of Windows 7 support still remains.

Also some games don't support Linux right? that could be a problem.

[Haruspex]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Chesmu:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Harusp3x:

Every single complaint Windows 7 and 8 users have about Windows 10 and 11 is completely mitigated by just switching to Linux.

I know that is an option but Linux is complicated and open source, it's not easy or safe to use, definitely has some things to do before and after installing. Simply it requires IT knowledge, I'll try learning to use it the right way but my request of Windows 7 support still remains.

Also some games don't support Linux right? that could be a problem.

You have been influenced by the FUD. Linux is powerful and gives you a lot of freedom, but unless you want to dive deep, it's actually very simple and straightforward to use. It's easy enough I would even feel comfortable with installing it on the PC of any clueless grandmother. In fact, she would probably be better off due to the lower profile when it comes to malware.

Installing it is easier than even Windows. Plug in USB drive, install, done. Also if you upgrade your hardware down the line, even your motherboard and CPU, your current installation will just work without any adjustment.

Getting Steam running is as simple as going into the repository manager, called "Discovery Center" on my Kubuntu installation, selecting "Steam", and clicking "Install". From there using it is basically the same as on Windows.

The only thing a Windows user needs to get used to is the fact that it's not Windows, so there are some bad habits you'll need to unlearn. The idea that Linux is complicated and only for tech savvy programmers is not only out of date, but it's flat wrong and has roots in a FUD campaign started by Microsoft over 20 years ago. They were afraid of people ditching Windows for Linux, because Linux is honestly good enough for even the most casual of user, no IT knowledge required.

As for games, check out ProtonDB[www.protondb.com]. You'll find that most games work just fine, or even better. I would say old Windows games work better under Linux than under modern Windows these days. As for newer games being incompatible, most work fine on release day, and for the ones that don't they usually do after a short amount of time. There are still a few games that use certain anti-cheat implementations that do not work. You might want to check that ahead of time, but it's still improving daily. For example, Halo Master Chief Collection now works fine in multiplayer with anti-cheat implemented when it didn't before.

[Chesmu]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Harusp3x:

The only thing a Windows user needs to get used to is the fact that it's not Windows, so there are some bad habits you'll need to unlearn. The idea that Linux is complicated and only for tech savvy programmers is not only out of date, but it's flat wrong and has roots in a FUD campaign started by Microsoft over 20 years ago. They were afraid of people ditching Windows for Linux, because Linux is honestly good enough for even the most casual of user.

Does all versions have built-in firewall or antivirus? how safe is connecting to Network with it? what about default port settings of it? Those are the things I'm worried about.

Apart from that a lot of the games in my library don't write Linux as supported OS, if that campaign has such a big effect, it must have been the same for game developers who require windows for their games.

[Haruspex]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Chesmu:

Does all versions have built-in firewall or antivirus? how safe is connecting to Network with it? what about default port settings of it? Those are the things I'm worried about.

Apart from that a lot of the games in my library don't write Linux as supported OS, if that campaign has such a big effect, it must have been the same for game developers who require windows for their games.

There are countless distros with endless variations in what they come with, but if we stick with the popular ones...

I'm using Kubuntu, which is a variant of Ubuntu using KDE Plasma instead of Gnome. (The desktop interface.) I never connect my systems to any network that's not my own, so I'm not using any kind of software firewall, but I can see on this distro there is in fact a very good and fully configurable software firewall available by default. I could easily turn that on if I want to connect to any unknown networks, but personally I won't be. The default settings are to disallow any incoming, but you can set rules for that just like on Windows. No need to use the terminal. There's a very nice GUI to handle all of it.

You don't really need an anti-virus on Linux. Viruses that work on Linux are pretty rare compared to Windows, and if you are safely getting your software from trusted repositories and not randomly running any executable you find on the Internet, your chances of getting a virus are so slim as to be basically negligible. If you really feel like you need it anyway, you can use something like ClamAV[www.clamav.net], which is open source, but there are also closed source Linux AVs like Panda and Avast.

Games do not need official support to work on Linux. You'll find most work fine anyway. There's several cases in which games specifically say they do not support Steam Deck, but if you launch them on a Linux system they work just as well as on Windows, if not better. That's why I linked ProtonDB. You can check any game and see how well it works. Look at your whole library and see what games work, what games don't, and what games work fine after a couple of simple adjustments.

Also earlier you said Linux is "open source", like that's something to be afraid of. Open source is a good thing. It's far more secure than closed source applications, because everyone contributing to the code keeps everyone else accountable. Anything remotely suspicious gets flagged and removed immediately by other contributors. Unlike closed source software, where there's no accountability and you really can't be sure what's in there.

[Bee🐝]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Harusp3x:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Chesmu:

Does all versions have built-in firewall or antivirus? how safe is connecting to Network with it? what about default port settings of it? Those are the things I'm worried about.

Apart from that a lot of the games in my library don't write Linux as supported OS, if that campaign has such a big effect, it must have been the same for game developers who require windows for their games.

There are countless distros with endless variations in what they come with, but if we stick with the popular ones...

I'm using Kubuntu, which is a variant of Ubuntu using KDE Plasma instead of Gnome. (The desktop interface.) I never connect my systems to any network that's not my own, so I'm not using any kind of software firewall, but I can see on this distro there is in fact a very good and fully configurable software firewall available by default. I could easily turn that on if I want to connect to any unknown networks, but personally I won't be. The default settings are to disallow any incoming, but you can set rules for that just like on Windows. No need to use the terminal. There's a very nice GUI to handle all of it.

Games do not need official support to work on Linux. You'll find most work fine anyway. There's several cases in which games specifically say they do not support Steam Deck, but if you launch them on a Linux system they work just as well as on Windows, if not better. That's why I linked ProtonDB. You can check any game and see how well it works. Look at your whole library and see what games work, what games don't, and what games work fine after a couple of simple adjustments.

I’ll second the ProtonDB recommendation. Do not depend on Valve’s own “verification” system - it’s a total outdated mess.

Also, ProtonDB is the added bonus of community workarounds and recommendations. Got YS Origins working today thanks to it.

[flobefall]

Oh jesus, another one of these posts.

No, Valve won't keep their service for old OS. Period.

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Chesmu:

What can users do about this change at Steam:
Let's be realistic, no one has the time, energy or money to sue a big private company for something like this, and the ones who have those,

Let me complete it:
"already lost their attempts a few years ago when Valve dropped support for Win98/Vista/XP as courts all around the globe pointed out that this step is absolutly legal."

Read the contracts before signing them, such as Steam's Subscriber Agreement.
The points 2A) and 11D) are relevant for your thread.

[Rusted Droid]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από PBE flobefall:

Oh jesus, another one of these posts.

No, Valve won't keep their service for old OS. Period.

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Chesmu:

What can users do about this change at Steam:
Let's be realistic, no one has the time, energy or money to sue a big private company for something like this, and the ones who have those,

Let me complete it:
"already lost their attempts a few years ago when Valve dropped support for Win98/Vista/XP as courts all around the globe pointed out that this step is absolutly legal."

Read the contracts before signing them, such as Steam's Subscriber Agreement.
The points 2A) and 11D) are relevant for your thread.

Nobody need to sue Valve if you have sober arguments and not the drunk Microsoft ones.

[Blueberry {JESUS IS LORD}]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από PBE flobefall:

Oh jesus, another one of these posts.

No, Valve won't keep their service for old OS. Period.

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Chesmu:

What can users do about this change at Steam:
Let's be realistic, no one has the time, energy or money to sue a big private company for something like this, and the ones who have those,

Let me complete it:
"already lost their attempts a few years ago when Valve dropped support for Win98/Vista/XP as courts all around the globe pointed out that this step is absolutly legal."

Read the contracts before signing them, such as Steam's Subscriber Agreement.
The points 2A) and 11D) are relevant for your thread.

agreed, 'bout time ppl understand how things work

[flobefall]

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από Rusted Droid:

Αναρτήθηκε αρχικά από PBE flobefall:

Oh jesus, another one of these posts.

No, Valve won't keep their service for old OS. Period.



Let me complete it:
"already lost their attempts a few years ago when Valve dropped support for Win98/Vista/XP as courts all around the globe pointed out that this step is absolutly legal."

Read the contracts before signing them, such as Steam's Subscriber Agreement.
The points 2A) and 11D) are relevant for your thread.

Nobody need to sue Valve if you have sober arguments and not the drunk Microsoft ones.

You've been served dozens of arguments within the last days to weeks and your own attitude won't make them invalid.

The only "drunk" ppl are those still fighting for Win7, I can't imagine any other reason for that