Windows7 users: Move to Ubuntu / Pop_OS for games that don't work on Windows10

[SeedsandPlants]

There are a handful of games or more that work on Windows 7, but don't on newer systems. Instead of being forced to upgrade to a system where some games don't work, switch to a computer system you've likely never used on your computer before, but use every day.

Web servers, network routers, managed switches, smart televisions, and mobile devices, all use some form of Linux, or in Apple's case, UNIX or berkley software distribution, which has a permissive software license so Apple can close the source code.

Linux is used on the steamdeck and Valve wants all the games to work on the Linux platform. This work was started over ten years ago in 2012, and Valve is continuing to support Linux.

Some games from the 1990s don't work on Windows 10, so an upgrade and forget those old games is not a complete solution, and a compromise most are not willing to accept. Linux reduces this compromise greatly, by allowing older games to keep working, and allows support for new games too.

The controller supporn is cool, allawing me to use a new xbox controllor in a game from two decades ago. So steam has a little bit of special magic there, which I would find difficult to setup without steam's controller compatibility effort.

The steam proton compatibility layer is what makes the steamdeck a viable option, allowing Windows games to be played on Linux. Not all games properly install, such as Dirt 2, which I've been playing for many years, but doesn't launch on Linux using proton. It installs, but I think it is missing some component.

Otherwise, of the few games I have tested, I haven't had any other issues and performance is comparable to a Windows system. It may be a bit lower but still playable will similar latency, so you may need to turn off anti-aliasing or other heavy features.

Pop_OS! based on Ubuntu is easy to use, but you don't have to boot an installation disc in jump in. Linux uses "Live booting" which is the 100% complete sysstem, bootable from a usb flash drive. To avoid rebooting your pc, A virtualbox machine is a better choice.

Virtualbox is like opening a video game to another computer system, displayed in a small window. This allows you to test the system, learn it's interface, programs and settings, without installing it to a real hard disk or ssd. So while you stick with Windows 7 you can learn Linux, which has continuous developer support and is Valve's focus for compatibility, because of the steamdeck.

You can continue to support Microsoft, and its reduced compatibility for older games, or jump over to Linux where it is common to support older graphics libraries and related software, thanks to Wine is Not an Emulater, wine.

Without Wine, Coheweavers and steams efforts with proton, the steamdeck would be running Windows. Valve did not want this, so they are actively improving Linux's game support, which will hopefully interest more people into Linux and will be a safe choice for old and new desktop computer systems. There is only one way to get there:

Users.

If there is only 1-2% of desktop gamers using Linux in ten years from now, it will continue to be seen as a complicated niche platform for losers and nerds. But open-source is incredibly exciting, allowing backwards compatibility with Vulkan for graphics cards that did not originally have it.

Windows won't allow tools or drivers that do that, but open-source does. It allows improving software, even if it stopped being developed, someone else can pick it up and add features. Proprietary software just doesn't allow this level of freedom. Once DirectX compatibility (especially the really early versions 1-7) is figured out, hopefully new games will stop using it. As a software or game developer, do you want to rely on proprietary libraries and tools, that are difficult to maintain support, or do you want to use open-source projects, which allows your creation to be continuously supported in the future?

I know what world I want to see, but we have to make this choice as a gaming community. DirectX makes it difficult to run older games, and without Wine / Codeweavers / Valve's proton, it would not be as easy. Let's continue the effort of supporting all games, and demand as a game community, that we no longer want planned obsolesence in our software. We don't want to be forced to abandon our games, just because a company released a new (albeit free) system that doesn't support those older games. We want open standards, to help extend the amount of time we are able to play these experiences, and to help extend how long we are able to appriciate a unique game design and artistry.

If you are fine with computer games becoming unplayable every 20 years, then I don't believe you fully appreciate games. Sure, we can go find old consoles, but at some point those won't be available, and Atari has already switched to software emulation. We have progressed computer development at an ovelwhelming pace, and I believe we should keep our gaming and software roots available for generations to enjoy. We need open standards like Vulkan and Linux systems, to maintain software support, so that we can have an increasing amount of game diversity, not a refresh every 20 years because software changes.

That is avoidable, and we should be preserving these tools, not forgetting them.

[nobleberry]

Origineel geplaatst door Zefar:

Ah yes, the idea of moving to Linux which is known to struggle with games just to play some old ones but when a large chunk of Steams library won't work for it and try to claim it's a good choice.

linux can run more games than windows 7. linux can run everything as long as developers don't actively preventing their games from running on linux (online games with kernel anticheats or specific antilinux checks like in genshin impact).

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

Origineel geplaatst door DonMcK:

Guess the OP has touched a nerve. Good for you!

No nerves here, I'm on wWndows 11 and I didn't even make the thread lol.

No matter how you slice it, your OS is not special and has to be updated from time to time.

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

Origineel geplaatst door Zefar:

Ah yes, the idea of moving to Linux which is known to struggle with games just to play some old ones but when a large chunk of Steams library won't work for it and try to claim it's a good choice.

Not to mention that the average user is not going to have the tech savvy to use Linux.

[lsdninja]

Origineel geplaatst door C²C^Guyver |NZB|:

Not to mention that the average user is not going to have the tech savvy to use Linux.

As long as you avoid the elitist distros (Debian, Arch, Gentoo, etc), it requires less tech savvy to get into now than it did when I first started using it 20-odd years ago. It’s not beyond the loudest of the Windows 7 zealots here, especially if they’d put the time and effort they spent bellyaching over this since March into actually trying it out and learning it…

[Xautos]

Origineel geplaatst door Alucard †:

Moving to a completely unfamiliar OS that i had absolutely zero experience with in any way shape or form.

I'm getting a headache just by thinking about it.

I think i'll take my chances with the "client may work for some time on outdated operating systems" who knows maybe i'll be able to get a new PC "soon" cause this one is quite old.

That's what i had to deal with in 2019 before windows 7 general support was coming to a close, not only that but i'm a very simple person, all that coding and what not is so far beyond me it's like an alien language. yet i moved across and have been using it the last 4 years. if a dunce like me can do it, someone with more intelligence would have no problem with it.

so i tend to see those complaining the most about linux are those who have excuses but no valid reason not to jump across.

[Ionut Catalin Frasineanu]

90% of games on this gaming platform work well with Windows 10. The fapt that you want to stay with an outdated OS it's your choose!

[metamec]

Origineel geplaatst door smeggot:

The amount of posters freaking out over a few people using Win 7 is absolutely hilarious.

I think most are just irritated by the daily new threads on the topic, mostly by the same few people, that bring nothing new to the table. They are just spamming at this point.

[Dr Madbastard]

Windows 7 > Windows 10/11 and beyond, you know it's true lads.

[Xautos]

Origineel geplaatst door metamec:

Origineel geplaatst door smeggot:

The amount of posters freaking out over a few people using Win 7 is absolutely hilarious.

I think most are just irritated by the daily new threads on the topic, mostly by the same few people, that bring nothing new to the table. They are just spamming at this point.

Us vs. them mentality. sides dig their trenches and no one is going to come out except when one charges at the other when they think they won the point. only in this case it's a matter of time before windows 7 and 8 users surrender, not merely run away to battle again in a few years from now.

[SeedsandPlants]

Origineel geplaatst door Ionut Catalin Frasineanu:

90% of games on this gaming platform work well with Windows 10. The fapt that you want to stay with an outdated OS it's your choose!

90% is excellent, but there are just a few that don't. I also like the idea of not being stuck on Windows to play video games. A lot of games are more fun with a controller, bun even consoles don't hold onto backward-compatibility that is achieved on a more open desktop operating system.

I really believe Linux is a great system for computer users. Even Windows has some issues that will need resolving or a re-installation, or even a repair / refresh command. The more Linux users, the more opportunity to share what areas need some graphical interface improvements. Or, to explain certain errors in a different manner and what each provided suggestion's effects will be. For example, if removing a specific program will basically wipe the desktop or kernel, there should be a major warning advising to not continue.

Small, but uncredibly helpful improvements will make it possible for all new users to understand the way the system works.

Origineel geplaatst door Zefar:

Ah yes, the idea of moving to Linux which is known to struggle with games just to play some old ones but when a large chunk of Steams library won't work for it and try to claim it's a good choice.

If you really believe Linux is so complicated, which may be a correct assesment, then test your past-experience or hypothosis, and try it in a virtual machine. Since you are on Windows, Ubuntu, Fedora, and OpenSUSE is ailable for download in the microsoft store, so that may be an easier option. This allows you to test it without rebooting, and keeping Windows installed while you learn. Linux mint has exceptionally beautiful wallpapers, so beautiful, that someone took the time to download all the wallpapers from all linuxmint wallpapers, which is quite a lot. It is available on github.

Origineel geplaatst door ValentB:

Why not Linux Mint then? Easiest and most Windows-like. Ubuntu is Mac-like and kinda harder than Mint for newcomers.

Pop_OS gets faster updates than Ubuntu, so performance will improve more frequently, vs waiting each 6-month release for those changes as Ubunhu does. There are ways to modify that, but pop os is designed this way.

I really enjoy the style of cinnamon desktop in linux mint. If you enable desktop expose in desktop effects, it shows all your virtual desktops. It can be set into a grid system to fill the screen, and you'll see the wallpaper as small images, for each virtual desktop. Also great themes such as Chamomile and spearmint.

There is also Linux mint debian edition, so if you don't want a Ubuntu base, but stils want Linux Mints themes and tools.

[KalGimpa]

pop was ok

i have a copy of manjaro and mint

i like mint because of the easy transition from 7

it does everything i need it to

i have manjaro because the steam os is based on arch

i am going to try and use it for a gaming pc if tey actually release it

one negative thing about mint is how long it takes to get the nvidia updates

not a huge deal but something to think about

[Zefar]

Origineel geplaatst door wrqsdfxcvsdfw:

linux can run more games than windows 7. linux can run everything as long as developers don't actively preventing their games from running on linux (online games with kernel anticheats or specific antilinux checks like in genshin impact).

Uh huh, not really what I've seen. Steam Deck can't play all of the games or even half of them.
The Anti cheat stuff is not Anti Linux, it's anti cheat and those things can make quite a bit of difference.
If you ever seen the Youtube video on the "The Wiggle" for Tarkov you'll learn why anti cheat needs those things running.

LinusTechtips have also tried getting games to work on Linux when they do their challenge but fails to get them to run properly because no one has made any fixes for it.

Origineel geplaatst door SeedsandPlants:

If you really believe Linux is so complicated, which may be a correct assesment, then test your past-experience or hypothosis, and try it in a virtual machine. Since you are on Windows, Ubuntu, Fedora, and OpenSUSE is ailable for download in the microsoft store, so that may be an easier option. This allows you to test it without rebooting, and keeping Windows installed while you learn. Linux mint has exceptionally beautiful wallpapers, so beautiful, that someone took the time to download all the wallpapers from all linuxmint wallpapers, which is quite a lot. It is available on github.

Not gonna bother. I have Win11 and will not be installing Linux.
Beautiful wallpapers is up to your own opinion. I've had the same wallpaper for so long I don't remember when I actually switched to it.

Linux might start out easy but you will encounter problems with it. When those problems show up, fixing can wary from easy to impossible. It is more likely you'll get it too hard or impossible.
On Windows you will not get these problems.

In LinusTechTips video where they used Linux for daily drive, Linus managed to uninstall the whole OS when trying to install Steam. Was hilarious.

You can't really mess up that badly on windows unless you install one of the worst virus around. But this was with an official exe from the main page.
Even Luke when he was done with the challenge and have used Linux before in his school days jumped to Win11 and stayed on it. Never looking back.

When you get high tech people actively avoiding your OS there is a problem.

[Dango]

Stop rrccomending Ubuntu. Its not familiar to windows in any way. Linux mint is basically win 7 GUI. If you want the closest windows experience use zorin os. Its damn near a windows machine. Its even capable of running windows software right out of the box, no additional steps needed.

[Dango]

Origineel geplaatst door Zefar:

Ah yes, the idea of moving to Linux which is known to struggle with games just to play some old ones but when a large chunk of Steams library won't work for it and try to claim it's a good choice.

Ignorant statement. Almost every game on steam works by simply checking a box.

[SDriver]

Origineel geplaatst door Teh Dango:

Origineel geplaatst door Zefar:

Ah yes, the idea of moving to Linux which is known to struggle with games just to play some old ones but when a large chunk of Steams library won't work for it and try to claim it's a good choice.

Ignorant statement. Almost every game on steam works by simply checking a box.

https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/002/464/418/5cf