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)

[HIVEmind]

you people need to get a regular 9-5 job.
im not talking about the comentators. as they are much appaled of the criminal gig you got going here.

i think this is his illegal money maker. maybe cash or worse . illegal spying.

[bidulless]

Początkowo opublikowane przez HIVEmind:

you people need to get a regular 9-5 job.
im not talking about the comentators. as they are much appaled of the criminal gig you got going here.

i think this is his illegal money maker. maybe cash or worse . illegal spying.

hello
like i told to your friend , prove it and it's easy to do :
just build a vm with any nt 6.1 sku and apply it, and then show us what you have discovered about that ... not too hard i guess...

Początkowo opublikowane przez bidulless:

prove it xd

but you can't because i am not here to prove things but only how things are working and understand how things are working ,and i only post what i've discovered along my journey ( and you outside trolling ,both of you?? )
everything is in your hands to reproduce and counter what i've done :
kbnumber, sku, tools used ( so just use it and prove us i was wrong or lying )...

sorry but i can easily imagine if both of you are here to help people , so you would have posted some screenshots showing how dangerous it is ( showing a scan done done under eset,kasperski,defender etc ) of the os after or during applying this tool or even showing that nothing is beeing setup using windows event viewer but, yeah, you can't ...
knowing that, what's your objectiv here ???????????
https://neurolaunch.com/internet-trolls-psychology/
https://theconversation.com/dont-feed-the-trolls-really-is-good-advice-heres-the-evidence-63657

so imo posting so many ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, lies, misinformations can only be done by a troll and like we allways said
do not feed the troll ...
so byebye till 2025-04-12 i guess and sorry, do not blame me, i prefer playing or watching a movie than reading your constant buillshit (glad blocklist is till working under april old steam ) xd

[Weird Pumpkin]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Ontrix_Kitsune:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Weird Pumpkin:

This is in context to the person I was replying to. I've seen their post history in other threads and this is very much what they're doing.

I'm still waiting for you to quote my words that I wrote where you said I wrote something "Malicious". Why have you not done this? You claimed I wrote Malicious words into the steam forum. Prove it.

You are staying in a thread making cyclical arguments and are not engaging with the requests to give clarification. It's been explained that the Microsoft site isn't enough. You need to showcase that the installation method expressed by those disagreeing doesn't make a difference to the actual software. You aren't actively pursuing a solution to the problem and instead quoting sources.

As I said before, this isn't a conversation. You know when you post that it's not going to bring the discussion to a next step. Having the same statements being posted over and over again is objectively spam.

[Ontrix_Kitsune]

Początkowo opublikowane przez bidulless:

what's your objectiv here ???????????

I've already answered this the last 3 times you asked. You know the answer already before you wrote it. I guess I can repeat it again since you're having difficulty reading: My purpose here is to help keep all information in this thread true and factual. I will do whatever it takes, as long as necessary to make sure all of the false and fake information, and intentional misinformation is debunked every time I see it.

[Ontrix_Kitsune]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Weird Pumpkin:

It's been explained that the Microsoft site isn't enough.

The Microsoft website very clearly states the recently released updates are only for Windows Server 2008. Nothing else needs to be said, commented, or discussed. It's a server 2008 update. That should be the end of it right there. Nothing needs further discussion beyond that. It's not a Windows 7 update which means obviously those updates do not update Windows 7. It's a very simple thing. Read the words. Understand the words. Move on with life.

Początkowo opublikowane przez Weird Pumpkin:

As I said before, this isn't a conversation. You know when you post that it's not going to bring the discussion to a next step. Having the same statements being posted over and over again is objectively spam.

Unfortunately I don't have any choice in the matter: As long as other people continue writing false information and intentional misinformation then I'll just have to continue debunking it. If they stopped doing that then I would stop commenting here as well. But every couple days there's more comments with more false information so the cycle repeats. I sincerely hope some day people will learn that they can't update Windows 7 ever again.

Server 2008 updates will not update Windows 7. There's no reason to even try as it's not for Windows 7.

[Weird Pumpkin]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Ontrix_Kitsune:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Weird Pumpkin:

It's been explained that the Microsoft site isn't enough.

The Microsoft website very clearly states the recently released updates are only for Windows Server 2008. Nothing else needs to be said, commented, or discussed. It's a server 2008 update. That should be the end of it right there. Nothing needs further discussion beyond that. It's not a Windows 7 update which means obviously those updates do not update Windows 7. It's a very simple thing. Read the words. Understand the words. Move on with life.

Początkowo opublikowane przez Weird Pumpkin:

As I said before, this isn't a conversation. You know when you post that it's not going to bring the discussion to a next step. Having the same statements being posted over and over again is objectively spam.

Unfortunately I don't have any choice in the matter: As long as other people continue writing false information and intentional misinformation then I'll just have to continue debunking it. If they stopped doing that then I would stop commenting here as well. But every couple days there's more comments with more false information so the cycle repeats. I sincerely hope some day people will learn that they can't update Windows 7 ever again.

Server 2008 updates will not update Windows 7. There's no reason to even try as it's not for Windows 7.

"It's a server 2008 update. That should be the end of it right there."
It's not. I've explained why. And you refuse to go to further lengths which could bring a resolution. This is malicious.

"Unfortunately I don't have any choice in the matter"
You do. I've explained how you can do so. But you don't. You are not being forced to post. And by not acting in a more professional manor you're effectively only making the matter worse.

I've read your reasoning for several months now. You've expressed both these points multiple times and I've expressed why they're not going to do anything. This is spam.

[Takohashi]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Ontrix_Kitsune:

Unfortunately I don't have any choice in the matter: As long as other people continue writing false information and intentional misinformation then I'll just have to continue debunking it.

https://i.imgur.com/BU5Rn38.png

[Ontrix_Kitsune]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Weird Pumpkin:

"It's a server 2008 update. That should be the end of it right there."
It's not. I've explained why. And you refuse to go to further lengths which could bring a resolution. This is malicious.

As I already told you: There is nothing else to discuss on it. Microsoft says it's a Server 2008 update so it's a server 2008 Update. It does NOT say Windows 7 on it. This is NOT a Windows 7 update. It will not update Windows 7. Nothing anyone says can change that fact.

[NakiBest]

If nothing to discuss, why are you still here?!

GTFO out of here, go somewhere else..

[Ontrix_Kitsune]

Początkowo opublikowane przez NakiBest:

If nothing to discuss, why are you still here?!

GTFO out of here, go somewhere else..

I've already answered that: I am here because others are writing false information and attempt to spread misinformation on purpose. As long as they continue doing that I will remain here.

I don't understand why other people are still discussing this subject though. It should of never went on this far. I honestly thought in my mind that everyone would just see "Nope that's not for Windows 7" and just drop it. Oh well. Maybe some day I can stop commenting here. One can dream.

[bidulless]

hello
hehe xd
https://i.postimg.cc/02vbPRPk/Capture.jpg
funny that the free scanner is working when my av never updated since now nearly 2 years

[Master.Constructor]

After installing the March 2025 rollup on my six (soon to be seven) Win7 PCs I'm quite pleased to say everything is working very well. I've found a few more Win7 developments in the works which should help keep it working well for quite a while. It would be nice to see a Special or Final Edition of Win7 at some point with all the updates & fixes in one ISO.

On the other front, it looks like Win10 may soon be worthy replacement for Win7 with an UpdatePack of it's own. Maybe 2026 is the year to fully switch over?

[Master.Constructor]

Per MajorGeeks, I think these notes are useful if you've never used UpdatePack7 before but I just run the EXE as it is, it usually doesn't take more than 10-15 mins on a SP1 system with 2023 updates.


This update pack allows you to update Windows 7 SP1 (x86 x64) and Server 2008 R2 SP1 live operating systems and integrate the updates in the distribution (Install.wim). It can be installed in any language. Includes all critical, recommended, and security updates and updates for all versions of Internet Explorer.

To install updates on a Live Windows 7 System:

Key /Reboot to automatically restart if it is needed.
Key /S for a fully silent install with no windows and messages. The case is significant.
Key /Silent for passive installation - you can see the progress, but the installation is fully automatic.
Key /IE11 installs Internet Explorer 11 and its localization (optional).
Key /Temp= allows you to specify a work location (optional).
Key /SmartFix integrates the Smartfix program by Simplix in the System Restore. File SmartFix.exe must be placed together with the Pack.

[Weird Pumpkin]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Ontrix_Kitsune:

Początkowo opublikowane przez Weird Pumpkin:

"It's a server 2008 update. That should be the end of it right there."
It's not. I've explained why. And you refuse to go to further lengths which could bring a resolution. This is malicious.

As I already told you: There is nothing else to discuss on it. Microsoft says it's a Server 2008 update so it's a server 2008 Update. It does NOT say Windows 7 on it. This is NOT a Windows 7 update. It will not update Windows 7. Nothing anyone says can change that fact.

"As I already told you"
So essentially you don't want to put the effort in and spam more. It's already been established that "telling people" something isn't working and that you want to be obstinate about it. You're not here to help people, if you were you would go to further lengths because you cared. Instead you're here because you're emotionally attached to the argument and couldn't leave even if you wanted to.

[Ontrix_Kitsune]

Początkowo opublikowane przez Master.Constructor:

Per MajorGeeks, I think these notes are useful if you've never used UpdatePack7 before but I just run the EXE as it is, it usually doesn't take more than 10-15 mins on a SP1 system with 2023 updates.


This update pack allows you to update Windows 7 SP1 (x86 x64) and Server 2008 R2 SP1 live operating systems and integrate the updates in the distribution (Install.wim). It can be installed in any language. Includes all critical, recommended, and security updates and updates for all versions of Internet Explorer.

To install updates on a Live Windows 7 System:

Key /Reboot to automatically restart if it is needed.
Key /S for a fully silent install with no windows and messages. The case is significant.
Key /Silent for passive installation - you can see the progress, but the installation is fully automatic.
Key /IE11 installs Internet Explorer 11 and its localization (optional).
Key /Temp= allows you to specify a work location (optional).
Key /SmartFix integrates the Smartfix program by Simplix in the System Restore. File SmartFix.exe must be placed together with the Pack.

Just a note for everyone finding this thread: UpdatePack7 DOES NOT update Windows 7 with any new updates beyond what you see in Windows Update. Downloading and installing UpdatePack7 will not update your Windows 7 computer with any new updates.

The above information is completely false: There are no new updates for Windows 7 that could possibly be applied to a Windows 7 computer.