How long could Steam realistically support SteamCMD/OldClient login on XP/7/8 ?

[TrantaLocked]

Valve stated that support for Windows 7 only dropped because of Chromium dropping support, so hypothetically had it not been for that they would still want to support Windows 7 into the future indefinitely.

But there are still ways to login and play officially on XP with the 2019 Client method or SteamCMD method and the modern client still works in Windows 7/8. As long as login is supported on the older operating systems (that many games explicitly support), then you will have a way to play. And that's at the least with an archive import if or when game downloads get totally disabled with any client method, which I honestly don't have a huge problem with.

The real problem will be when log in is disabled on these operating systems. How long could or will Steam support the login API used with XP/7/8? People have mentioned security concerns, but as long as the login API is secure and it works with XP, there shouldn't be a problem right? Because if people can't login, they would need to crack their DRM protected games to continue playing on an old system that doesn't support Windows 10+. Which of course I believe they have the right to do. Many PCs don't support new operating systems, but can still find use for LAN parties, kids, nostalgia sake, etc. Who hasn't taken out their old Pentium-based PC to play some RollerCoaster Tycoon on Windows 98? You still own the game and your PC still supports it! You don't need to use an old computer with the internet to benefit from its ability to play your old supported games - some of which like 16-bit games no longer work in Windows 10 and 11 without running in a VM.

The way I see it is the only good reason for Steam to totally disable user login on an XP/7/8 client is when a login API change is required for security reasons and those operating systems don't support the API change, and Valve doesn't want to do the work to make it compatible. Even though I do think they should do the work since people purchased their games advertising explicit support for these operating systems. But can we really expect that to happen any time soon or even at all?

[TrantaLocked]

Originalmente postado por Piston Smashed™:

Originalmente postado por TrantaLocked:

Installing an older version of the client is not REVERTING a client. The original binary is an OFFICIAL STEAM BINARY and if Valve wanted to totally disable login access with it they could.

Yes, in the end if someone has no other choice but to crack then they should do so. How are you not following here? I don't like cracking and I want Valve to preserve existing login methods on older operating systems, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't do it if one day I legitimately didn't have another choice. The DMCA already covers this anyway.

You cannot install an older client version of Steam without doing something to it which is not officially supported by Steam. I have a Day One exe install of Steam, which I downloaded myself back in Sept 2003 however, if I was to use it it would not install an older version of Steam but it would check and download todays version of Steam.

You can install it using the binaries themselves, not with the actual installer.

[TrantaLocked]

Originalmente postado por Nx Machina:

Originalmente postado por TrantaLocked:

Installing an older version of the client is not REVERTING a client. The original binary is an OFFICIAL STEAM BINARY.

It is reverting the client from what Valve have released as the current official client.

Originalmente postado por TrantaLocked:

Yes, in the end if someone has no other choice but to crack then they should do so. How are you not following here? I don't like cracking and I want Valve to preserve existing login methods on older operating systems, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't do it if one day I legitimately didn't have another choice. The DMCA already covers this anyway.

You have choice and piracy should not be condoned when you can run all those games Win 7, Win XP games on Win 10, 11 such as the ones i listed.

As stated no one is obligated under law to provide support for retro machines using outdated, OS and hardware.

Valve to preserve logins on older systems? Microsoft? Google? Epic etc? Get a free pass?

The DMCA that protects digital rights for the creators of digital content.

If a game supports an operating system and I'm inhibited from playing it on that operating system I have the right under the DMCA to circumvent encryption methods for the purpose of personal use of the software. I cannot be COMPELLED to buy another computer or change operating systems.

[Piston Smashed™]

Originalmente postado por TrantaLocked:

Originalmente postado por Piston Smashed™:

You cannot install an older client version of Steam without doing something to it which is not officially supported by Steam. I have a Day One exe install of Steam, which I downloaded myself back in Sept 2003 however, if I was to use it it would not install an older version of Steam but it would check and download todays version of Steam.

You can install it using the binaries themselves, not with the actual installer.

So, you're ripping and modifying the install to create a new installer one which isn't officially supported by Steam, seems legit...

[Nx Machina]

Originalmente postado por TrantaLocked:

If a game supports an operating system and I'm inhibited from playing it on that operating system I have the right under the DMCA to circumvent encryption methods for the purpose of personal use of the software. I cannot be COMPELLED to buy another computer or change operating systems.

You are not inhibited as has being clearly shown. You have a Win 10, 11 PC and your point was:

Originalmente postado por TrantaLocked:

If a game isn't accessible using the advertised minimum requirements then either someone has to step in or at the least you should be able to refund your purchase.

And my reply was:

Originalmente postado por Nx Machina:

Accessible games which run on Win 10 x64 with the advertised minimum spec.

Fallout 3 and Fallout New Vegas (Win 7).

Avernum: Escape from the Pit and Exiled Kingdoms (Win XP).

And:

Originalmente postado por Nx Machina:

You wanting a retro machine does not mean anyone has to support it, after all you have yet to link a court case where Microsoft have being forced to continue support of XP, Win 7, 8, 8.1, nor a court case where Valve, Epic or any other PC/Client Store has being forced to support outdated software, in fact you continue to ignore Epic is dropping support in June for XP, Win 7, 8, 8.1 and Win 10 32 bit, or to put it another way you deem Epic not relevant to the thread when it is.

How long will the Epic Game Store launcher continue to work after June?

As for the DMCA:

The United States Congress has ruled that it is now legal to circumvent Digital Rights Management (DRM) software in certain circumstances. In a new copyright ruling published today by the Librarian of Congress, customers will be allowed to work around DRM software under the “right to repair.”

Primarily, that relates to electronics. It will now be legal, for example, to bypass firmware that prevents unapproved vendors from repairing your phone or laptop.

[TrantaLocked]

Originalmente postado por Piston Smashed™:

Originalmente postado por TrantaLocked:

You can install it using the binaries themselves, not with the actual installer.

So, you're ripping and modifying the install to create a new installer one which isn't officially supported by Steam, seems legit...

No you're just copying the program files. It's totally legit; they're legit steam installation files.

[TrantaLocked]

Originalmente postado por Nx Machina:

[ You are not inhibited as has being clearly shown. You have a Win 10, 11 PC and your point was:

You would absolutely be inhibited on the operating systems Steam no longer supports.

[Nx Machina]

Originalmente postado por TrantaLocked:

You would absolutely be inhibited on the operating systems Steam no longer supports.

Nope you are not as i gave you examples of Win 7, Win XP games working on Win 10 and your point was minimum spec supporting a particular version of Windows.

Originalmente postado por TrantaLocked:

If a game isn't accessible using the advertised minimum requirements then either someone has to step in or at the least you should be able to refund your purchase.

Secondly you are not just talking about software but also hardware as in retro machine while again ignoring Epic are dropping support in June.

As for refunds: WITHIN 2 weeks of purchase AND with LESS than 2 hours playtime.

[KriKitBoNeZ]

Originalmente postado por TrantaLocked:

Originalmente postado por Piston Smashed™:

So, you're ripping and modifying the install to create a new installer one which isn't officially supported by Steam, seems legit...

No you're just copying the program files. It's totally legit; they're legit steam installation files.

I was just copying that movie file from the internet. Totally legit.

[Piston Smashed™]

Originalmente postado por TrantaLocked:

Originalmente postado por Piston Smashed™:

So, you're ripping and modifying the install to create a new installer one which isn't officially supported by Steam, seems legit...

No you're just copying the program files. It's totally legit; they're legit steam installation files.

But Steam updates to the latest version when it gets installed. This is why I cannot use my 2003 installer to install a 2003 version of Steam. So, you must have to do more than just copy program files over, which makes you tampering with the install, so it doesn't seem to be legit too me.

[Nx Machina]

Originalmente postado por Piston Smashed™:

Originalmente postado por TrantaLocked:

No you're just copying the program files. It's totally legit; they're legit steam installation files.

But Steam updates to the latest version when it gets installed. This is why I cannot use my 2003 installer to install a 2003 version of Steam. So, you must have to do more than just copy program files over, which makes you tampering with the install, so it doesn't seem to be legit too me.

There are guides and it is not just about copying files.

[TrantaLocked]

Originalmente postado por Nx Machina:

Originalmente postado por TrantaLocked:

You would absolutely be inhibited on the operating systems Steam no longer supports.

Nope you are not as i gave you examples of Win 7, Win XP games working on Win 10 and your point was minimum spec supporting a particular version of Windows.

Originalmente postado por TrantaLocked:

If a game isn't accessible using the advertised minimum requirements then either someone has to step in or at the least you should be able to refund your purchase.

Secondly you are not just talking about software but also hardware as in retro machine while again ignoring Epic are dropping support in June.

As for refunds: WITHIN 2 weeks of purchase AND with LESS than 2 hours playtime.

Stop mentioning Epic, this thread isn't about epic. And don't repeat to me the official refund terms like I don't know what they are. Please learn what the word "should" means.

Originalmente postado por KriKitBoNeZ:

Originalmente postado por TrantaLocked:

No you're just copying the program files. It's totally legit; they're legit steam installation files.

I was just copying that movie file from the internet. Totally legit.

Movies are protected by copyright and usually cost money. It isn't illegal or unethical to download the program files for free software.

Originalmente postado por Piston Smashed™:

Originalmente postado por TrantaLocked:

No you're just copying the program files. It's totally legit; they're legit steam installation files.

But Steam updates to the latest version when it gets installed. This is why I cannot use my 2003 installer to install a 2003 version of Steam. So, you must have to do more than just copy program files over, which makes you tampering with the install, so it doesn't seem to be legit too me.

There isn't anything wrong with stopping an install from updating using a simple ini modification or firewall rule.

Originalmente postado por Nx Machina:

Originalmente postado por Piston Smashed™:

But Steam updates to the latest version when it gets installed. This is why I cannot use my 2003 installer to install a 2003 version of Steam. So, you must have to do more than just copy program files over, which makes you tampering with the install, so it doesn't seem to be legit too me.

There are guides and it is not just about copying files.

It pretty much is just copying the files actually.

[Wayne]

We're locking this thread as it has devolved into non-productive argument. Thanks for your understanding.