Windows 7 Support Ending - Refunding my Entire Library?

[InfernusMatrix]

So let me get this straight, my games that run fine on Windows 7 I can no longer access past a certain point? If this is the case I will be talking to my bank and refunding my entire games library. I have zero interest in upgrading my hardware or Operating system.

Does this not violate consumer or anti-trust laws?

When I started using Steam I never agreed for them to control what hardware and operating system I can use, especially considering all of the games I play support Windows 7.

[七七 ඞ]

Indeed, that's why I mentioned the transferability of the license by linking to a MS account. You can upgrade your PC and keep your Windows license that way.

There's very little excuse not to upgrade, anyone that refuses to do so has no valid claim other than their own unwillingness, and that's unworthy of any sympathy from anyone anywhere.

[Boblin the Goblin]

引用自 TheBasedSociety：

Indeed, that's why I mentioned the transferability of the license by linking to a MS account. You can upgrade your PC and keep your Windows license that way.

There's very little excuse not to upgrade, anyone that refuses to do so has no valid claim other than their own unwillingness, and that's unworthy of any sympathy from anyone anywhere.

Missed that part in your comment.

[RiO]

引用自 Komarimaru：

引用自 RiO：

Well... yes and no.
You could just switch it into "notify me but let me choose when to download and install" mode before; in the very early Windows 10 days. But Microsoft axed that for the Pro SKUs. Now you can just set a period by which to defer updates (up to a maximum of iirc 128 days for a feature update and 31 days for a stability/security update) and you get a few one-shot options to temporarily skip applying an update and shut down immediately; or temporarily suspend updates for up to a given date (max 1 month, iirc). But in all cases Windows will then install those updates at the next opportunity and you can't block it again.

The only supported loop hole you get is joining an AD and using your own WSUS server.
Which, yeah; that's probably covered by your "many other ways."

But running your own domain controller and WSUS server is generally not something small business users (the primary target for the Pro SKU) still want to do.

How helpful then, that Microsoft offers a pay-by-the-mile AD and WSUS solution via Azure, which they will be happy to manage for your company; while you essentially only have to schedule which updates roll out to which machines on what time table. (That thing the small business wanted to achieve.)

I.e. they found a way to monetize updates by foisting the forced updates for clueless consumers on small businesses. And while doing so, those consumer power-users that also bought the Pro SKU basically just suffer the collateral damage.

Group policy for Windows Pro users. But don't think Home has access to this.
https://i.imgur.com/YRidme2.png
Tada... Really simple really. How all people on Pro versions of Windows should be adjusting settings, is in Group Policies. That's like, the whole point of Pro, customizing to your needs.

That particular policy is iirc the one i recall news of that Microsoft changed after the initial Windows 10 milestone updates, to no longer be honored on the Pro SKU. That said; if I currently look at the policy's description in Win 10 Pro, then indeed it no longer mentions any SKU limitations. Which leaves me wondering if they backpedaled on it.

[Boblin the Goblin]

引用自 RiO：

引用自 Komarimaru：

Group policy for Windows Pro users. But don't think Home has access to this.
https://i.imgur.com/YRidme2.png
Tada... Really simple really. How all people on Pro versions of Windows should be adjusting settings, is in Group Policies. That's like, the whole point of Pro, customizing to your needs.

That particular policy is iirc the one i recall news of that Microsoft changed after the initial Windows 10 Anniversary update, to no longer be honored on the Pro SKU. That said; if I currently look at the policy's description in Win 10 Pro, it no longer mentions any SKU limitations. Which leaves me wondering if they backpedaled on it.

It still is because my personal one is a pro SKU and never updates without me explicitly telling it to.

[TurtleShroom]

引用自 TheBasedSociety：

Windows 11 uses the exact same licensing system of Windows 10, as it's a continuation of Windows 10 family - so skipping 10 in favor of 11 entirely will not change this, and the mechanism works the same.

Is it possible to skip straight to W11 using the free upgrade system, or do I need to jump from W10 to W11? I am still planning to hold out if possible, but if it comes to that, W10 will die soon, so W11 will give me the longest time between Valve's next punishment.

引用自 SlowMango：

Swapping out a motherboard will not cause any issues as long as before doing so, you link your license to your Microsoft account by using it as a login. I just upgraded my motherboard and that's all I had to do. Once I booted it up, I verified the license then removed the link between my Microsoft account and my computer.

This is all based off the original license I used from the free upgrade back before 2016.

This is one of the things I have the biggest problem about. I WILL NOT use an always-online account to log into my machine and I WILL NOT install W11 with one enabled. Someone on my Profile page showed me how to install W10 that way, but I don't think W11 uses the same system.

Is it possible to verify the license a normal way, without tying yourself to a Microsoft Account?

[七七 ඞ]

引用自 TurtleShroom：

Is it possible to skip straight to W11 using the free upgrade system, or do I need to jump from W10 to W11? I am still planning to hold out if possible, but if it comes to that, W10 will die soon, so W11 will give me the longest time between Valve's next punishment.

Yes. I mentioned it, 11 is the same as it's the same family of OSes.

引用自 TurtleShroom：

Is it possible to verify the license a normal way, without tying yourself to a Microsoft Account?

Yes, this is also possible. However, you cannot transfer the license from your motherboard if it fails if you do not link a Microsoft account.

To bypass the requirement of making a Microsoft account during Windows 11 setup, when the initial part that comes up asking the language and region comes up, press Shift+F10 and on the command prompt window that comes up, type:

OOBE\BYPASSNRO

The system will reboot and allow you to pick "I don't have internet, proceed with local account" option on the next try.

If you have an Xbox or Hotmail account you already have a Microsoft account, though, so I don't know why not link it.

[Takohashi]

引用自 TheBasedSociety：

引用自 TurtleShroom：

Is it possible to verify the license a normal way, without tying yourself to a Microsoft Account?

Yes, this is also possible. However, you cannot transfer the license from your motherboard if it fails if you do not link a Microsoft account.

To bypass the requirement of making a Microsoft account during Windows 11 setup, when the initial part that comes up asking the language and region comes up, press Shift+F10 and on the command prompt window that comes up, type:

OOBE\BYPASSNRO

The system will reboot and allow you to pick "I don't have internet, proceed with local account" option on the next try.

Or you can just unplug the network cable...

引用自 TurtleShroom：

This is one of the things I have the biggest problem about. I WILL NOT use an always-online account to log into my machine and I WILL NOT install W11 with one enabled. Someone on my Profile page showed me how to install W10 that way, but I don't think W11 uses the same system.

Is it possible to verify the license a normal way, without tying yourself to a Microsoft Account?

I'm really wondering why you don't want to use your MS account in the OS? Is this some kind of paranoia or what? It's the same as your Google account in your android smartphone.

[pizDuke]

Don't want to read 100+ pages of text, just want to drop by and say that I support OP's cause. Would like Valve's report on how feasible would be to prolong Windows 7 support even if in "use at your own risk" style (who knows maybe Valve's right and forking Google's engine would be ungodly costly idk). I still have a spare laptop with win 7, playing games from time to time on it. There's 1 game in my library that is so buggy that it works only on Windows 7.
Also, I will never install Windows 11, unless "certain people" who I may not mention will make Win 11 usable, so I want Valve to keep this in mind when they decide to drop win 10 support.

[Orion Invictus]

引用自 pizDuke：

"certain people"

Gee, that's never code for anything "distasteful". And the groups you're a part of certainly support that assertion!

[alex-spieleder]

I dont think i want to read over 700 new

[七七 ඞ]

引用自 Takohashi：

Or you can just unplug the network cable...

No, you can't do that anymore. They changed it on the newest build of Windows 11.

[Spawn of Totoro]

引用自 TheBasedSociety：

No, you can't do that anymore. They changed it on the newest build of Windows 11.

I just installed that on my son's laptop. Not being plugged in and there was an option in to wi-fi for no internet access. Installed just fine on a local account. Only issue is it bugs you a bit about it when done installing, until you make it stop asking.

[Qbert ⭐]

引用自 Spawn of Totoro：

引用自 TheBasedSociety：

No, you can't do that anymore. They changed it on the newest build of Windows 11.

I just installed that on my son's laptop. Not being plugged in and there was an option in to wi-fi for no internet access. Installed just fine on a local account. Only issue is it bugs you a bit about it when done installing, until you make it stop asking.

Good to know, I really hate MS accounts lol

[Crashed]

引用自 TheBasedSociety：

引用自 Takohashi：

Or you can just unplug the network cable...

No, you can't do that anymore. They changed it on the newest build of Windows 11.

Shift+F10, type oobe\bypassnro and press enter. Say you don't have Internet when it reboots.

[七七 ඞ]

引用自 Crashed：

引用自 TheBasedSociety：

No, you can't do that anymore. They changed it on the newest build of Windows 11.

Shift+F10, type oobe\bypassnro and press enter. Say you don't have Internet when it reboots.

That's what I said in the comment they were replying to me for :P