Steam, Windows 7 - 2025

[Master.Constructor]

We're almost finished 2024 and we've had several Steam client updates as well as Windows 7 updates via UpdatePack7. So far Windows 7 seems to be running well and will carry me into 2025 at the very least.

I've been running Windows 7 since transitioning from XP after bypassing (and watching the fallout from) Vista. So far so good aside from DirectX12 and some driver restrictions.

I closely followed the roll-out of Win8, 8.1 and 10 waiting for a good time to transition to a newer OS, testing a few other options while I've been waiting (Linux, Windows Server, Tiny/Lite Windows). So far I haven't found anything that seems to worth the effort or privacy risks / compromise.

Windows 7 SP2/3?

In 2021 I found UpdatePack7 which is a monthly security pack for all editions of Windows 7 SP1 and Windows Server 2008R2 (seems to be in development since 2013) and have had very good results with it. There is a small ~1MB downloader program (v1.5.0.0) which will download and/or verify the update pack (~800MB). The latest release was three days ago (24.6.12) and no issues to report. It's a significant saving of bandwidth, time and drive space and I am very grateful for it's consistent and diligent development. It is essentially the SP3 that Win7 users were always waiting for.

If you're having issues on Windows 7 SP1, try running the following from CMD (as administrator) and post your results here.
chkdsk
sfc /verifyonly

Hint:
I find starting Steam offline is much faster and smoother. Here's my steps to starting Steam Offline:
1 - edit the file loginusers.vdf
... mine was located here: \Steam\config\loginusers.vdf
2 - change "WantsOfflineMode" from 0 to 1
3 - save and set file [Properties] to [Read-only]
4 - start steam to check

Also, to remove the red banner at the top I added this to my steam.exe shortcut:
-pretendeol-w10


Updates
=======
UpdatePack7 25.4.10 (Windows 6.1.7601.27666)
- Added KB5055561-x64 with disabling telemetry and checking processors (replaces KB5053620-x64)
- Added KB5056456-x64 (replaces KB5050681-x64)

UpdatePack7 25.3.12 (Windows 6.1.7601.27615)
UpdatePack7 25.2.12 (Windows 6.1.7601.27566)
UpdatePack7 25.1.15 (Windows 6.1.7601.27520)
UpdatePack7 24.12.12 (Windows 6.1.7601.27412)

Steam Beta Branch: Stable Client
Steam Version: 1730853000
Steam Client Build Date: Thu, Nov 7 7:55 PM UTC -08:00
Steam Web Build Date: Wed, Oct 9 5:44 PM UTC -08:00
Steam API Version: SteamClient021

- UpdatePack7 2024.10.10 (Windows 6.1.7601.27366)
- Steam Version: 1726604483 (Tue, Sep 17, 2024)

[Master.Constructor]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Bloody Moon:

In October the support for updates for windows 10 will also end, if valve will stop supporting windows 10 as it did with windows 7 it will force users to change system and I don't need to change pc. The best "my" decision would be to abandon this castrated and limited platform, play on GOG and consoles.

This is certainly one option but I expect Win10 to stick around for many years to come. Another would be to test out Linux on a spare machine / drive or try dual-booting.

I'm currently testing Win10 for myself via dual-boot and might throw Linux into the mix as well.

[Start_Running]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Phoenix:

I use Windows 10 (not by choice), but I find it hilarious when people say 7 was the most insecure ... hell with 10 Microsoft has had multiple months with extreme amount of vulnerabilities (160 for example, in January alone)

https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/operating-systems/microsoft-patches-over-160-security-flaws-including-3-active-zero-days-update-your-pc-right-now

To be fair that happens with just about every OS microsoft releases.

[Ontrix_Kitsune]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Master.Constructor:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Bloody Moon:

In October the support for updates for windows 10 will also end, if valve will stop supporting windows 10 as it did with windows 7 it will force users to change system and I don't need to change pc. The best "my" decision would be to abandon this castrated and limited platform, play on GOG and consoles.

This is certainly one option but I expect Win10 to stick around for many years to come. Another would be to test out Linux on a spare machine / drive or try dual-booting.

I'm currently testing Win10 for myself via dual-boot and might throw Linux into the mix as well.

You're completely incorrect and that statement is completely false. No. Nothing updates anything in Windows 7. It's not possible to update Windows 7 at all. Not now. Not tomorrow. Not next month. NEVER. You'll NEVER be able to update Windows 7 ever again.

Why are you continuing to write comments like this in public that you know are completely false? Did you think people won't correct you?

[Crashed]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Start_Running:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Phoenix:

I use Windows 10 (not by choice), but I find it hilarious when people say 7 was the most insecure ... hell with 10 Microsoft has had multiple months with extreme amount of vulnerabilities (160 for example, in January alone)

https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/operating-systems/microsoft-patches-over-160-security-flaws-including-3-active-zero-days-update-your-pc-right-now

To be fair that happens with just about every OS microsoft releases.

And likely many of them affect Windows 7 as well but since 7 is out of support have not been tested.

[Master.Constructor]

Like I've mentioned before, UpdatePack7 is more than a service / security super pack, it's a protective shield between my PCs and Microsoft. Updates that were released in the past do not get automatically added, instead there is some corrective (remove / disable telemetry) and validation that is taking place (remove adware updates & problem / defective updates). This is what I wish we can see for Windows 10 some day.

So far I've updated four of my Windows 7 PCs to 6.1.7601.27566 and everything is as smooth as usual. I've got a few to go still but my focus is on testing different OS.

As it is, I've been experimenting with dual / triple booting into Win7/10 and Linux this month and with great success. I now have more first-hand understanding of my options but also much frustration and dismay at finding a Windows 7 replacement. If anyone has a suggestion of something I should try please let me know. So far I've used:

Windows 10 22H2 cleaned up with O&O ShutUp / Appbuster and WinUtil
Linux Mint 22.1 Xfce
Linux Mint Debian Edition (LMDE 6)

[Ontrix_Kitsune]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Master.Constructor:

So far I've updated four of my Windows 7 PCs to 6.1.7601.27566

Nice try there but no: You did not update your Windows 7 computers. You know you didn't update your Windows 7 computers. Why are you still trying to do this?

[bidulless]

hello

i guess it's time to finish to debunk all the misinformation we've seen that are still posted by some people here and for that i will invite you to a journey to the past of windows 7
This post will be divided in 3 parts , so i will make 3 differents post it will be more easier if you want to quote some part

And for explanations i will start by using my own comp which is running windows 7 home premium
https://i.postimg.cc/RFBcsKmv/Capture.jpg
here is the last "quality update" , because it's now like that mikeysoft qualify update , that my comp recieved trought the normal chanel ( check for update under windows 7)
and as you can see the last "quality update" i've recieved was kb4534310 on 2020-01
https://i.postimg.cc/Xq7GygfD/6Capture.jpg
going a month before, i also recieved another "quality update" with kb4530734 released 2019-12

both upgrade are some sort of cumulativ , meaning if i miss the previous one, no worries, it will be include into the next cumulativ one month later.
So the file is constantly growing, month after month, because every files inside it , if they has been updated, will be replaced by the newer one and more and more files will be included into it.

[bidulless]

hello

now let's check kb4534310

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/january-14-2020-kb4534310-monthly-rollup-9ce32b1b-77ef-9a17-7ecb-2bcebcaa9ff5
https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB4534310
https://i.postimg.cc/pLKQDsNs/1Capture.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/qMyQLJyc/2Capture.jpg
in yellow you can find important part ,at least for the current topic of our OP @Master.Constructor and from mikeysoft web site

here is what you can see if you click the download button at the right
https://i.postimg.cc/YSZmZgwv/3Capture.jpg
the yellow show the update name and also the sha-1 for this upgrade in case you want to verify that your download has not been altered during the download.
sha-1 is really weak in term of sum controlling but anought for the explanation i will offer here, no need to use a better one like sha-256 or even sha-512 because it will give you the same result anyway.
note that you can see all the other upgrade for other sku at left also
https://i.postimg.cc/1XthFgfK/4Capture.jpg
here is windows server 2008r2 "quality update" kb4534310 and it sha-1
https://i.postimg.cc/QCVwtRy4/5Capture.jpg
and here it's windows 7 embedded "quality update" kb5434310 and it sha-1

all the files are sharing the same sha-1 as you can see and easily verify by yourself with the links i provided

[bidulless]

hello

now let's check kb4530734
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/december-10-2019-kb4530734-monthly-rollup-8a09c35f-fc66-9a8c-130d-94c73b935888
https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB4530734
https://i.postimg.cc/Xq7GygfD/6Capture.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/jj0DhT6f/7Capture.jpg
same as before here, i used yellow color to show you what was important for this the thread of our op @Master.Constructor

https://i.postimg.cc/QdX8NMq0/8Capture.jpg
this is a screenshot of the kb from the mikeysoft catalogue web site and again important stuff has been colored with yellow

https://i.postimg.cc/m2KYK0NL/10-Capture.jpg
here is the "quality upgrade" that has been applyed into my comp, yellow is also used to show you important stuff ( sha-1 and name )
https://i.postimg.cc/9XpN5FrW/9Capture.jpg
here is windows server 2008r2 with important stuff in yellow also like sha-1 and name
https://i.postimg.cc/7hdz82zs/11-Capture.jpg
and finally here is the windows 7 embedded with important stuff in yellow ( sha-1 and name )

all the files are sharing the same sha-1 as you can see and easily verify by yourself with the links i provided

[bidulless]

hello

now let's download 2 files , one will be for server 2008r2 and another one will be for windows 7 embedded xd
https://i.postimg.cc/mgGcYRyH/12-Capture.jpg

kb4534310 for windows 7 embedded
https://i.postimg.cc/QdytdTdh/aCapture.jpg

kb4530734 for windows server 2008r2
https://i.postimg.cc/26mfkkhC/bCapture.jpg

and like before , important part are using yellow color and i guess you have a little idea about what i will do with both files i hope xd

sha-1 of kb4534310 of the downloaded file for windows windows 7 embedded and it's the same for all the sku ( windows 7 / windows 7 embedded / windows server 2008r2)
TceKbusU4urB7ec4H0qTZYyOLNw=)

sha-1 of KB4530734 of the dowloaded file for windows server 2008r2 and it's the same for all the sku ( windows 7 / windows 7 embedded / windows server 2008r2)
SqVECr1siKgQHwadB5n/VGYEjMI=)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SHA-1

[bidulless]

hello

now let's build a fresh vm using windows 7 pro sp1 and let some "quality update" beeing applyed but not too many because we will use the files we downloaded also xd

https://i.postimg.cc/GptXvZRv/14-Capture.jpg
here is a fresh windows pro 7 release number just after setup

https://i.postimg.cc/TwyHvBHT/15-Capture.jpg
damn so many "quality upgrade" xd
in fact there is also many "spyware quality upgrade" with it.

but anyway as soon as we can let's apply the server 2008r2 "quality update" and window 7 embedded "quality update" when we can.

https://i.postimg.cc/mgHDhrz9/16-Capture.jpg
here we go ,) let's apply the window 2008r2 "quality upgrade" to our windows 7 pro xd
https://i.postimg.cc/ZnQb5kJj/17-Capture.jpg
install in progress ....
https://i.postimg.cc/FH3rNn8g/18-Capture.jpg
install done and i need to reboot, damn xd
https://i.postimg.cc/GptXvZRv/14-Capture.jpg
aye but before let's check the release number of our windows 7 pro sp1 after an update without issue using the windows server 2008r2
https://i.postimg.cc/Y2Tj7gj7/19-Capture.jpg
we just need to apply the last "quality update" i recieved on my windows 7 home premium with the last kb and we will be on the same level of windows release
so here we go
https://i.postimg.cc/xTKjS4WG/21-Capture.jpg
setup in progress
https://i.postimg.cc/28fmTxV1/23-Capture.jpg
setup done and also a reboot is needed here also

https://i.postimg.cc/fTZnYTrX/24-Capture.jpg
we are now on the same level between my vm running windows 7 pro and my comp running windows 7 home but i applyed windows 7 embedded and server 2008r2 "quality update" for that

tools used :
windows 7 pro sp1 freshly setup
kb4530734 from windows server 2008r2
kb4534310 from windows 7 embedded
virtual box 7.0.22
notepad , and 7zip to show the content of the "quality update" kb4530734 and kb4534310
winupdatelist from nirsoft because it's more convenient to show update list done with it
powershell with this command line
Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion" | `
Format-List ProductName,DisplayVersion,CurrentBuildNumber,BuildLabEx

conclusion:
are windows 7 embedded or windows server 2008r2 the same as windows 7 update as sha-1 showed and like i showed you into these 4 posts :
- yes and they can be used to update windows 7 and it explain how and why some tools like updatepack are working and why despite i think it's "borderline" it also working with windows 7

are the update like windows 7 embedded or windows server 2008r2 safe to be use as upgrade for windows 7 :
yes again because it's just windows nt 6.1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_NT
and do we need to care about that ?
not more than this https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-24h2

and very last :
debunking ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ and misinformation is taking more time than just saying ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ and misinformation xd

edit :
my bad i've forget this screenshot also
https://i.postimg.cc/tTNbJpZt/Capture.jpg
ps:
bad luck for bullshiters and people spreading misinformation, this time screenshots are on unlimited save xd

[Crashed]

Początkowo opublikowane przez bidulless:

are the update like windows 7 embedded or windows server 2008r2 safe to be use as upgrade for windows 7 :
yes again because it's just windows nt 6.1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_NT
and do we need to care about that ?
not more than this https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-24h2

and very last :
debunking ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ and misinformation is taking more time than just saying ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ and misinformation xd

Windows NT 6.1 is the kernel. Windows 7, Windows 7 Embedded, and Windows Server 2008 R2 are software bundles incorporating the kernel.

The updates are intended only for the matching software bundles.

[bidulless]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Crashed:

Początkowo opublikowane przez bidulless:

are the update like windows 7 embedded or windows server 2008r2 safe to be use as upgrade for windows 7 :
yes again because it's just windows nt 6.1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_NT
and do we need to care about that ?
not more than this https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/status-windows-11-24h2

and very last :
debunking ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ and misinformation is taking more time than just saying ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ and misinformation xd

Windows NT 6.1 is the kernel. Windows 7, Windo7 Embedded, and Windows Server 2008 R2 are software bundles incorporating the kernel.

The updates are intended only for the matching software bundles.

hello

no xd
as the sha-1 showed and like i showed from this too long post
The 3 files are exactly the same (windows 7/windows 7 embedded/windows server 2008r2) and you can do the test yourself exactly like i did despite using a different name .... or would i said a "different description"
that's why i decided to apply one update from windows 7 embedded and one update from windows server 2008r2 on my windows 7 pro vm
funny that , if i understand correctly , you are using some windows server and have no clue what sha-1 is or means, that's sad ....

[Master.Constructor]

Początkowo opublikowane przez bidulless:

hello

i guess it's time to finish to debunk all the misinformation we've seen that are still posted by some people here and for that i will invite you to a journey to the past of windows 7
This post will be divided in 3 parts , so i will make 3 differents post it will be more easier if you want to quote some part

And for explanations i will start by using my own comp which is running windows 7 home premium
https://i.postimg.cc/RFBcsKmv/Capture.jpg
here is the last "quality update" , because it's now like that mikeysoft qualify update , that my comp recieved trought the normal chanel ( check for update under windows 7)
and as you can see the last "quality update" i've recieved was kb4534310 on 2020-01
https://i.postimg.cc/Xq7GygfD/6Capture.jpg
going a month before, i also recieved another "quality update" with kb4530734 released 2019-12

both upgrade are some sort of cumulativ , meaning if i miss the previous one, no worries, it will be include into the next cumulativ one month later.
So the file is constantly growing, month after month, because every files inside it , if they has been updated, will be replaced by the newer one and more and more files will be included into it.

Thanks so much for doing this, very thorough and interesting.

I have to say I am so much more appreciative of Win7 after starting to spend more hands-on time with Win10 and Linux. I know I need more time to test & explore but I don't think it should be so difficult to get a clean OS like Win7.

Now I KNOW that I have extensive history using Win7 and that is a major contributor to my experience, but some of the issues I've had are beyond me:
- mouse pointer changing size / style in different applications (linux)
- Firefox seems to be corrupted and will not reset / repair (linux)
- trying to figure out how to uninstall / reinstall Firefox (linux)
- update corrupts touchpad scroll feature (Win10)
...

[bidulless]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Master.Constructor:

Początkowo opublikowane przez bidulless:

hello

i guess it's time to finish to debunk all the misinformation we've seen that are still posted by some people here and for that i will invite you to a journey to the past of windows 7
This post will be divided in 3 parts , so i will make 3 differents post it will be more easier if you want to quote some part

And for explanations i will start by using my own comp which is running windows 7 home premium
https://i.postimg.cc/RFBcsKmv/Capture.jpg
here is the last "quality update" , because it's now like that mikeysoft qualify update , that my comp recieved trought the normal chanel ( check for update under windows 7)
and as you can see the last "quality update" i've recieved was kb4534310 on 2020-01
https://i.postimg.cc/Xq7GygfD/6Capture.jpg
going a month before, i also recieved another "quality update" with kb4530734 released 2019-12

both upgrade are some sort of cumulativ , meaning if i miss the previous one, no worries, it will be include into the next cumulativ one month later.
So the file is constantly growing, month after month, because every files inside it , if they has been updated, will be replaced by the newer one and more and more files will be included into it.

Thanks so much for doing this, very thorough and interesting.

I have to say I am so much more appreciative of Win7 after starting to spend more hands-on time with Win10 and Linux. I know I need more time to test & explore but I don't think it should be so difficult to get a clean OS like Win7.

Now I KNOW that I have extensive history using Win7 and that is a major contributor to my experience, but some of the issues I've had are beyond me:
- mouse pointer changing size / style in different applications (linux)
- Firefox seems to be corrupted and will not reset / repair (linux)
- trying to figure out how to uninstall / reinstall Firefox (linux)
- update corrupts touchpad scroll feature (Win10)
...

hello
sorry won't be able to help you a lot about your issue under linux, despite i have one vm with mint xd
better ask into cozy thread , there is many friendly and helpfull ppl here