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]

Escrito originalmente por N3tRunn3r:

You guys still talk about "Windows EMBEDDED" and high-of-risk 3rd-party Updates??!

I usually use Win7 Pro but do also have Win7 Ultimate and Win8.1 on a couple PCs.

[QWEEDDY2]

Escrito originalmente por Master.Constructor:

Escrito originalmente por N3tRunn3r:

You guys still talk about "Windows EMBEDDED" and high-of-risk 3rd-party Updates??!

I usually use Win7 Pro but do also have Win7 Ultimate and Win8.1 on a couple PCs.

I have retail box discs copies of some Windows NT and Win 8 Pro. Maximum consumer editions. I one of them whos really PAID for Windows up-to-date updates.
Until Win10 which is sold as service and not as product. Moreover - consumer customer SUBSCRIBTION service. Never was before for end-customers. Win10 Pro or higher editions require monthly subscription. Even just Pro which is not ultimate maximum consumer edition.

Everyones who cheer for "modern" non-true Windows either use prebuild Win10 lite SL N restricted version never have reinstall experience for it. Or they warez pirated non-end-consumer LTSB edition with disabled updates and same UpdateService repacked prebuild updates to some date. "Secure" repacks of it where UAC and VirtualStore broken instead of disabled telemetry and spyware. Thats why many got issues in games that require Win Registry entries.
And warez "activated" since its also require subscription (which is normal this time, its non-end-fustomer enterprise edition).

(UAC and VirtualStore should be NOT touched of its default states even in regular Control Panel, and never ever tkuch it through Registry)

[Crashed]

Escrito originalmente por Master.Constructor:

Escrito originalmente por N3tRunn3r:

You guys still talk about "Windows EMBEDDED" and high-of-risk 3rd-party Updates??!

I usually use Win7 Pro but do also have Win7 Ultimate and Win8.1 on a couple PCs.

I think what he's saying is that Windows Embedded updates are being altered to install on Windows Client.

[Master.Constructor]

New Steam client out today. So far so good.

Steam Beta Branch: Stable Client
Steam Version: 1721173382
Steam Client Build Date: Tue, Jul 16 8:24 PM UTC -08:00
Steam Web Build Date: Mon, Jun 24 3:16 PM UTC -08:00
Steam API Version: SteamClient021

[Amaruq Wulfe]

Escrito originalmente por lailaamell:

Escrito originalmente por Vitdom:

In what way was the successor Windows Vista worse than XP? Best example? I never owned Vista, only XP and 7 so I don't know.

vista is kinda just 7 vistas issue was ppl didnt have the hardware so it gave bad experiances like at that point windows xp had been running pretty long considering the timeline of windows os before xp windows 7 is basicly vista sp 1 the damage was done ppl viewed the os as bad basicly look on windows 10 it was bad early on but got really good later but alot of users only viewed it form that first use experiance lense if you mess up once its permament no matter if you patch or fix it the damage will be done

You've got the Windows 10 part terribly wrong here. Windows 10 started off good, but over time with numerous unnecessary updates that made such wonderful changes like integrated Edge's functionality into the OS itself so you can't remove it, or screwing up the way I/O works in the background to the point that the OS has become barely functioning on a hard drive.

It hasn't gone from bad to good, it's the other way around.

[Amaruq Wulfe]

Escrito originalmente por N3tRunn3r:

As great as Windows 7 "had" been, it also "sadly" was the most insecure and vulnerable Windows OS ever, even during its peak times, and really not to mention nowadays . . .

I'd make a guess that you've never heard of Windows XP RTM then.

[Amaruq Wulfe]

Escrito originalmente por VB Driver:

Will gladly be telling all those Win10 fanbois to "upgrade" because "muh security" to live-service always-online AI nightmare Win11 24H2+.

I am an absolute fan of Windows 7. To me, it's one of the greatest operating systems that were ever made. Microsoft haven't and in my opinion, never will create another OS that'll surpass Windows 7; it will remain their magnum opus to the end of times.

But with all that said and done, I'd agree with the rest to jump over to Windows 10. End of support from a lot of software vendors is a problem in itself, not to mention that a lot of modern hardware wouldn't be geared towards Windows 7 either, as someone else said in the thread. While disregarding some of the people's opinions here, like someone who claims it was the worst OS in terms of security, everyone else is more or less correct.

While I appreciate that people are keeping the dream alive, it's only going to go so far with the unofficial updates.

[HikariLight]

Those unofficial updates can lead to scammers and bad actors getting into your system and stealing your information or lock you out of your system holding it hostage until you pay them a ransom.

[VB Driver]

You don't even need updates anyway. Not like they help you run Win10/11 only games.
If you want "security" just get 3rd party antivirus.
Besides, trusting M$ on security is like trusting them on internet browsing.

[xBCxRangers]

My Win 7 games running as good as ever.

From this oldtimer, THANK you MS and Mr Newell

[Zero]

So wait, my Steam install on my W7 partition hangs on startup (ad page is always blank) and then restarts itself and works normally after that. Did one of these updates fix that issue?

[Crashed]

Escrito originalmente por xBCxRangers:

My Win 7 games running as good as ever.

From this oldtimer, THANK you MS and Mr Newell

And why do you fight to stay outdated? Hopefully your PC doesn't have a Wi-Fi adapter in it or plugged into it.

[Zero]

Escrito originalmente por Crashed:

Escrito originalmente por xBCxRangers:

My Win 7 games running as good as ever.

From this oldtimer, THANK you MS and Mr Newell

And why do you fight to stay outdated? Hopefully your PC doesn't have a Wi-Fi adapter in it or plugged into it.

This is fear-mongering nonsense.

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

Escrito originalmente por Zero:

Escrito originalmente por Crashed:

And why do you fight to stay outdated? Hopefully your PC doesn't have a Wi-Fi adapter in it or plugged into it.

This is fear-mongering nonsense.

Of course it is. That's why everyone with any sense is still using Windows 98. Oh wait....

[VB Driver]

I really really gonna parrot your nonsence about "muh security" when it's time to ditch outdated old Win10 and accept mandatory copilot+ with recall.