A couple of questions about Windows 7 in 2024.

[dias_flac_0g]

So it's been made clear that Steam will no longer support Windows 7 after Jan 2024.

But what exactly does this mean?

Does it mean that Steam simply won't get anymore updates? But we can still play our games in the "offline" mode?

Or does it literally mean that once Jan 2024 comes all of a sudden we wont be able to launch Steam at all and get an error message even while being offline? Currently the way Steam works is if we don't have an internet connection it will simply ask us if we want to use "offline" mode to play our games.

I did some googling but can't seem to find an answer to my specific question. All I find are people complaining (about the end of support) or the typical "Just upgrade to windows 10/11) people telling them to upgrade.

and yes before you anyone here tells me to upgrade, my main PC is a modern gaming rig with Windows 11.

I'm simply asking because I am using my old PC (8700k) as a Windows 7 PC for legacy games and just for the fun of it.

I recently formatted it and installed a clean copy of 7 of it with all the updates. So I would like to add some of my old Steam games on it.

Helpful comments will be greatly appreciated.

[lsdninja]

I get the whole "running retro games on retro hardware and retro OSs" thing, I do, I just don't know how practical it's going to continue to be the further in to this digitally delivered, DRM-encumbered dystopian future we've created. At some point it's going to get more trouble than it's worth to run Steam on Windows 7, just as it has for Windows XP before that and Windows 9x/2000 before *that* meaning that, unless you have the games you want to play on physical media (which isn't even a guarantee since toward the end there lots of "physical" games either required you connect to Steam and/or download all or part of them digitally), you aren't going to be able to play those games. It sucks, but we have no one to blame for it but ourselves.

[76561188078797539]

Publicado originalmente por Steven Seagull:

Pentium 4 Cedar Mill is from 2006 and it can run not just Win10 but Win11 also.

You mean a processor that doesn't have ANY TPM installed on it, never mind the "system requirements" version 2.0, that's demanded by Windows 11?

Can you run without it? Sure. Is it a stable system that will be supported by subsequent OS updates? Yeah, no. There's a reason "Trusted Computing" (about as fitting name as the PATRIOT act was) Group pushed that crap into "your" hardware.

Thankfully, with some mild competency it looks like you can't not just set up a legacy Steam client version that will continue working on Win7 even airgapped (though, obviously, won't work as a storefront anymore), but possibly also maintain manual updates to your games.

No thanks to Valve, and personally I've adjusted my spending habits accordingly. Never liked Steam virtual monopoly in the first place, and they've been increasingly hostile toward their supposed "users" for too long for my liking, anyway (♥♥♥♥ your "you'll take our crappy mobile UI and like it" approach, Steam).

Publicado originalmente por lsdninja:

I just don't know how practical it's going to continue to be the further in to this digitally delivered, DRM-encumbered dystopian future we've created.

Support places like GOG and itch.io and you ensure you have genuine alternatives.

I have offline installer backups on drives I control. Even if entire storefront goes down, I will have access to my purchases for as long as I put effort into maintaining them.

Learning some basic Python will help you automate updates even without any client whatsoever, for that matter (at least in case of GOG).

Your spending habits do matter. Hell, it's about the only way you can actually have an impact, no matter how small, on decision-making of for-profits.

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Publicado originalmente por dias_flac_0g:

I was simply asking if I could keep using Steam in the "offline" mode "forever".

And I answered that for you in my post: No you can not run steam in offline mode forever.

Publicado originalmente por dias_flac_0g:

I will simply use it to run older software (games) or any other miscellaneous things. For example burning homebrew Dreamcast games.

And now you're admitting you engage in actual software piracy. On the steam forums. That's not great.😕

Publicado originalmente por dias_flac_0g:

My new PC doesn't have a DVD/R drive in it nor does a have a space for one.

You can find a used external DVD-RW drive on ebay for around $10. If you need one there's no reason not to use one with a newer computer.

Publicado originalmente por dias_flac_0g:

I do not wish to continue downloading and updating Steam on my Windows 7 PC. I simply want to download some OLD games from my Steam library and simply have them available on my Windows 7 PC.

You can't do that forever. At some point Steam will make you attempt to login to steam again and then when you do that it will also fail to complete the login part and state you must have a newer operating system to continue using steam / will not let you access Steam or your games.

Publicado originalmente por dias_flac_0g:

To the few people who did try to answer my question, thank you. Sadly there's still some confusion. Some of you are saying you can stay in offline mode forever some of you are saying you will eventually need to re-login.

I have personal experience with this: I attempted to set up a Windows XP system (with no internet access) as a "Retro console" to play older games that shipped on disc with an older version of Steam. As I said above: That worked for about a year or so then one day I went to start it up and Steam changed from offline mode in to the login prompt and prompted me for my login and password. When I tried to login it said the OS wasn't supported and that was the end of it. I couldn't start Steam ever again. It might appear to work for a while with Windows 7 but some day it will "Break" and fail and you won't be able to use Steam again. It will not work forever.

[N3tRunn3r]

Publicado originalmente por Steven Seagull:

What do you think, for how long Win10 is going to be supported? It will be end of support by Microsoft after October 2025. That's why I'm talking about Win11. Also because Win11 has higher system requirements than Win10.

Approx until 2028~2030, just like all that unsupported and semi-supported time for Windows 7.

[76561188078797539]

Publicado originalmente por N3tRunn3r:

Approx until 2028~2030, just like all that unsupported and semi-supported time for Windows 7.

"I have altered the terms of our deal. Pray I do not alter it further" - MS at this point.

They have been pushing hard for turning their OS into SaaS. One of the main reasons they pushed through TPM, as well.

I wouldn't be so certain.

[N3tRunn3r]

Oh excuse me, I have forgotten to add... being supported until 2028~2030 "BY STEAM"

[dias_flac_0g]

Publicado originalmente por lsdninja:

I get the whole "running retro games on retro hardware and retro OSs" thing, I do, I just don't know how practical it's going to continue to be the further in to this digitally delivered, DRM-encumbered dystopian future we've created. At some point it's going to get more trouble than it's worth to run Steam on Windows 7, just as it has for Windows XP before that and Windows 9x/2000 before *that* meaning that, unless you have the games you want to play on physical media (which isn't even a guarantee since toward the end there lots of "physical" games either required you connect to Steam and/or download all or part of them digitally), you aren't going to be able to play those games. It sucks, but we have no one to blame for it but ourselves.

Just fired up my windows 7 PC and updated Steam. Haha it has a big red warning in the top middle part of the app that says "Steam will stop working on Windows 7 in 107 day."

I only wanted to download a few games. That being Skyrim OG LE, Resident Evil 4 (to mod it) I know RE4 works perfectly on 10/11, but still would like to have it on 7, and a very obscured game called Blades of Time.


"And now you're admitting you engage in actual software piracy. On the steam forums. That's not great"

Yea, I highly doubt that lord Gabe Newell is gonna punish me for using some homebrew software on my 24 year old DC that haslong been dead for the past 2 decades hahaha.

To be fair I don't really "pirate" games. I mostly own legit copies of games for all of my retro consoles. The only times I burn games is when I have to patch one with an english patch, such as persona 2 Innocent Sin on PSX or Grandia on Sega Saturn. For Dreamcast there's quite a few homebrew apps that are very useful such as DreamExplorer.

I'm fully aware of those external DVDR drives but those cheap drives suck and don't burn things properly. I have an old Plextor drive from Japan that works great for burning DC, Saturn, PSX/PS2 games.

Anyways I think I have my answer now. I guess there's no way to keep using Steam in offline mode as it will eventually "lock" me out.

Now I have another dilemma. I feel like my "reto" windows 7 pc is way over spec for what I will use it for. The only game that would push it for sure was Skyrim with mods, but nothing else. A 8700k/1080ti is complete over kill for early 2000's PC games. Such RTCW, Doom3, Fear, etc etc. I have all those games in physical form. The non steam versions.

Maybe I should sell my 8700k/1080ti and downgrade it to a 4770k or something like that haha.

[Скилловый Скаут]

So I'm the only one still using Windows 7?

[Steven Seagull]

Publicado originalmente por 76561198079797439:

Publicado originalmente por Steven Seagull:

Pentium 4 Cedar Mill is from 2006 and it can run not just Win10 but Win11 also.

You mean a processor that doesn't have ANY TPM installed on it, never mind the "system requirements" version 2.0, that's demanded by Windows 11?

Can you run without it? Sure. Is it a stable system that will be supported by subsequent OS updates? Yeah, no. There's a reason "Trusted Computing" (about as fitting name as the PATRIOT act was) Group pushed that crap into "your" hardware.

For now it works, you can just disable the check for TPM, CPU, RAM, SecureBoot, etc. from registry. But there are rumors that Microsoft will remove this side-door.

[Gameroreocookie32]

Hello Steam Guys I'm Jameel Perkins asking for HELP Why Steam is Desktop app not on my PS5 app store https://direct.playstation.com/en-us/hardware/ps5?emcid=pa-co-421881&gclid=79d296a91ad7128af692f3ac7ba35ff8&gclsrc=3p.ds&?

[76561188078797539]

Publicado originalmente por Steven Seagull:

For now it works, you can just disable the check for TPM, CPU, RAM, SecureBoot, etc. from registry. But there are rumors that Microsoft will remove this side-door.

So what's the point of "upgrading" when the first thing you're doing is remove the supposed security (and functionality) "upgrades" in the first place?

That's less "secure" than telemetry-bricked Win7 (and, honestly, talking about "security" of any MS OS is laughable).

[dias_flac_0g]

Publicado originalmente por MishaBring:

So I'm the only one still using Windows 7?

I'm currently using my Windows 7 "retro" pc to type this atm. So I guess i'm still using it too. Officially I stopped using it in Feb 2023. But I been riding with Windows 7 since it was released so for like 14 years?

Honestly I only switched to windows 10/11 cuz I wanted a new modern gaming PC. The 4000 series GPU's from Nvidia do not support Windows 7 and neither does Intel/AMD.

The z370 chipset is the final chipset that still supports Windows 7. However you do have to jump through a few hoops. You have to get some third party software to be able to download updates, and you need to have the NVMe's driver in the Windows 7 installation along with the USB3 drivers. Asus makes this simple since they have a tool that does this for you to your windows 7 installation files.

Aside from that you can still officially get drivers for it on z370. After that therei s zero driver support.

Another major blow to Windows 7 is chrome. Chrome no longer updates on Windows 7. You can still use it it just wont update anymore. Another big blow was also the fact that FF14 also dropped support for 7. So little by little I had no choice but to bite the bullet and put my old friend Windows 7 down.

I held on to 7 as hard as I could. But the fact that windows 7 lost chrome support, lost Nvidia support, lost Intel and AMD support and now Steam support just put the final nail in the coffin. I rolled with it till the wheels fell off though. The best windows OS ever made for sure. We will never have a Windows 7 ever again. Now it's all about apps and advertising us things.

[Steven Seagull]

Publicado originalmente por 76561198079797439:

Publicado originalmente por Steven Seagull:

For now it works, you can just disable the check for TPM, CPU, RAM, SecureBoot, etc. from registry. But there are rumors that Microsoft will remove this side-door.

So what's the point of "upgrading" when the first thing you're doing is remove all the supposed security (and functionality) "upgrades" in the first place?

That's less "secure" than telemetry-bricked Win7 (and, honestly, talking about "security" of any MS OS is laughable).

There will be a point in time when Steam won't support Win10 anymore. Maybe around 2028.

A fully up-to-date Win11 with SecureBoot disabled is million times more secure than Win7 which is not receiving security updates since almost 4 years. Win7 has secure boot disabled too... For me at least.

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Publicado originalmente por jameelperkins4:

Hello Steam Guys I'm Jameel Perkins asking for HELP Why Steam is Desktop app not on my PS5 app store https://direct.playstation.com/en-us/hardware/ps5?emcid=pa-co-421881&gclid=79d296a91ad7128af692f3ac7ba35ff8&gclsrc=3p.ds&?

Because Steam isn't supported on playstation. It never has been on there and it never will be on there. You will never have Steam on PS5.

[Steven Seagull]

Publicado originalmente por dias_flac_0g:

Publicado originalmente por MishaBring:

So I'm the only one still using Windows 7?

I'm currently using my Windows 7 "retro" pc to type this atm. So I guess i'm still using it too. Officially I stopped using it in Feb 2023. But I been riding with Windows 7 since it was released so for like 14 years?

Honestly I only switched to windows 10/11 cuz I wanted a new modern gaming PC. The 4000 series GPU's from Nvidia do not support Windows 7 and neither does Intel/AMD.

The z370 chipset is the final chipset that still supports Windows 7. However you do have to jump through a few hoops. You have to get some third party software to be able to download updates, and you need to have the NVMe's driver in the Windows 7 installation along with the USB3 drivers. Asus makes this simple since they have a tool that does this for you to your windows 7 installation files.

Aside from that you can still officially get drivers for it on z370. After that therei s zero driver support.

Another major blow to Windows 7 is chrome. Chrome no longer updates on Windows 7. You can still use it it just wont update anymore. Another big blow was also the fact that FF14 also dropped support for 7. So little by little I had no choice but to bite the bullet and put my old friend Windows 7 down.

I held on to 7 as hard as I could. But the fact that windows 7 lost chrome support, lost Nvidia support, lost Intel and AMD support and now Steam support just put the final nail in the coffin. I rolled with it till the wheels fell off though. The best windows OS ever made for sure. We will never have a Windows 7 ever again. Now it's all about apps and advertising us things.

FF ESR still receives security updates on Win7 for one more year.
Signal Desktop stopped working (because of Chromium as well), so now I'm using it from under Debian in a a virtual machine.
When Discord stops working in November (due to Chromium) I will use it from Firefox. I will mute myself via hardware switch and screen share will work via OBS studio as a webcam.
I disabled Steam updates, so it might work for another year or two as well.