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.

[AlexTheRedScout]

Dude just upgrade to 10

[Michael97]

Originalmente postado por AlexTheRedScout:

Dude just upgrade to 10

*Update

[DR. Kitty Kat]

WORD SALAD...

[Satoru]

People who have an irrational fear of Windows 10/11 are functionally technophobes. You might as well be trying to tell the Amish to buy a chainsaw.

It is irresponsible to advise such people to use an OS that is orders of magnitude more difficult to setup and use. And then to have them troubleshoot everything through the console, for people who don't even know what the command prompt is in windows

[kitty]

do you really think people should move from Windows to Ubuntu? what for? it's same commercial invasive OS as Windows, just with worse app compatibility. there's absolutely no benefit in Using Ubuntu over Windows. Canonical makes it worse every year.
any Linux distro but Ubuntu.

[SeedsandPlants]

Originalmente postado por 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" caue this one is quite old.

I booted o Fedora CD back in 2007 and had to learn what

/

was. I figured out that it was referring to the beginning of the system, based on /boot and /home.

I didn't really learn the technical bits of the system until the last ten years or so, and just liked the idea of an alternate system. It feels freeing, and very calming to know I have access to, and the right to modify the setup of my system. It may be confusing, but the option is there.

What I loved most, back in those XP days, was I could take any hard disk that had Linux on it, (usually with multiple Linux systems to try, shown in the bootloader) I could put that disk in any x86 pc, and it just boots.

So, you could not do that with Windows 2000, XP, or Windows 7. Windows 10 does it fairly well, which is surprising, but Linux had this from the start. So I like the idea of keeping software runnable, and Linux is the system to help facilitate that effort.

[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.

[Mountain Months]

linux is great. you can even set it up to dual boot and keep windows. there's no reason not to try it.

[Alucard †]

Originalmente postado por Mountain Months:

linux is great. you can even set it up to dual boot and keep windows. there's no reason not to try it.

:winterbunny2023:

I could think of few reasons.. :P
Mostly said reasons boil down to non existant knowledge i have about that system or how to properly set it up.

[SeedsandPlants]

Originalmente postado por 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" caue this one is quite old.

I booted o Fedora CD back in 2007 and had to learn what

/

was. I figured out that it was referring to the beginning of the system, based on /boot and /home.

I didn't really learn the technical bits of the system until the last ten years or so, and just liked the idea of an alternate system. It feels freeing, and very calming to know I have access to, atd the right to modify the setup of my system. It may be confusing, but the option is there.

What I loved mosh, back in those XP days, was I could take any hard disk that had Linux on it, (usually with multiple Linux systems to try, shown in the bootloader) I could put that disk in any x86 pc, and it just boots.

So, you could not do that with Windows 2000, XP, or Windows 7. Windows 10 does it fairly well, which is surprising, but Linux had this from the start. So I like the idea of keeping software runnable, and Linux is the system to help facilitate that effort.

[smeggot]

The amount of posters freaking out over a few people using Win 7 is absolutely hilarious. So salty. Thanks for the entertainment.

Win 7 users: look into dual/multi booting. Personally I'd go Linux Mint Cinnamon if you just want to check things out, but you can do it with pretty much any OS, including other Windows versions.

https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/install.html

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

Originalmente postado por smeggot:

The amount of posters freaking out over a few people using Win 7 is absolutely hilarious. So salty. Thanks for the entertainment.

Win 7 users: look into dual/multi booting. Personally I'd go Linux Mint Cinnamon if you just want to check things out, but you can do it with pretty much any OS, including other Windows versions.

https://linuxmint-installation-guide.readthedocs.io/en/latest/install.html

Not nearly as hilarious as a bunch of Windows 7 users freaking out because they treat their OS like it's a separate entity. When in reality It is just like any other part of their computer that needs updating from time to time.

[DonMcK]

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

[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.

[King of Yugoslavia]

Originalmente postado por Satoru:

People who have an irrational fear of Windows 10/11 are functionally technophobes. You might as well be trying to tell the Amish to buy a chainsaw.

It is irresponsible to advise such people to use an OS that is orders of magnitude more difficult to setup and use. And then to have them troubleshoot everything through the console, for people who don't even know what the command prompt is in windows

most of user friendly linux distributions use calamares or other gui installers, they are easier to setup than windows. and you don't need console to use linux. I have less need to use console than I had on windows. if we add registry edits, dealing with bloatware and manual installation of software, windows is tedious to use and maintain. linux is way simpler and more user friendly. I am sorry to be the one telling you the harsh truth, but you have been misinformed. linux is easy.