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)

[Meatflaps]

bidulless lähetti viestin:

hello
agree with you @Weird Pumpkin
and as you can see he was also activ here spreading the same bs as here...
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/7119694909421919282/

The only people spreading BS is you and the OP here claiming there are new updates for Windows 7 when you know there is no such thing.

[bidulless]

Meatflaps lähetti viestin:

https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB5043092
https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB5043129

You can go read it yourself. Do note that it DOES NOT say that this is for normal versions of Windows 7. Then also note that this is what UpdatePack7 is doing: It downloads the wrong updates for the wrong version of windows, modifies them so they won't complain about being in the wrong operating system then allows them to be installed in normal versions of Windows 7. That's what I'm talking about. That's the biggest problem.


I hope they continue to do so. However anyone using Windows 7 needs to understand these basic facts: there are no updates for their operating system. None. Microsoft will never release another update for Windows 7 ever again at any point in time. Not tomorrow. Not next month. Not next year. Never. Anyone claiming to have any updates for Windows 7 is completely lying.

hello

download the fike you linked and right click on it , select unzip here and it will unzip
inside thie unziped folder
Windows6.1-KB5043092-x86-pkgProperties.txt
open it with notepad
/-------------------------------------
ApplicabilityInfo="Windows 7.0 Client SP1;Windows 7.0 Embedded SP1;Windows 7.0 WinPE 3.1;"
Applies to="Windows 6.1"
Build Date="2024/09/02"
Company="Microsoft Corporation"
File Version="1"
Installation Type="FULL"
Installer Engine="Component Based Servicing - WUSA.exe"
Installer Version="6.1.7601.26614"
KB Article Number="5043092"
Language="ALL"
Package Type="Security Update"
Processor Architecture="x86"
Product Name="Windows 6.1"
Support Link="https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043092"
/--------------------------------------------------------
taken from your link
https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB5043092
mais honetement, mec , tu me soules un peu trop avec tes idioties constantes que tu postes ....
Je ne fais la promotion de rien, j'ai juste compris pourquoi et comment l'application de telles mises à jour étaient possible sur windows 7 ,et tu devrais en faire de même : au moins tu apprendrais quelque chose

[Meatflaps]

bidulless lähetti viestin:

download the fike you linked and right click on it , select unzip here and it will unzip
inside thie unziped folder
Windows6.1-KB5043092-x86-pkgProperties.txt
open it with notepad
/-------------------------------------
ApplicabilityInfo="Windows 7.0 Client SP1;Windows 7.0 Embedded SP1;Windows 7.0 WinPE 3.1;"
Applies to="Windows 6.1"
Build Date="2024/09/02"
Company="Microsoft Corporation"
File Version="1"
Installation Type="FULL"
Installer Engine="Component Based Servicing - WUSA.exe"
Installer Version="6.1.7601.26614"
KB Article Number="5043092"
Language="ALL"
Package Type="Security Update"
Processor Architecture="x86"
Product Name="Windows 6.1"
Support Link="https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043092"
/--------------------------------------------------------
taken from your link
https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB5043092
mais honetement, mec , tu me soules un peu trop avec tes idioties constantes que tu postes ....
Je ne fais la promotion de rien, j'ai juste compris pourquoi et comment l'application de telles mises à jour étaient possible sur windows 7 ,et tu devrais en faire de même : au moins tu apprendrais quelque chose

I'm fairly sure by now that you actually don't understand how to read English or if you do read it you don't understand what it is that you're reading. It very clearly says right there on the website Windows Server and Windows Embedded Standard 7.

It's like you see the website then you come to the steam forums and write complete BS that indicates you actually did not even read the website. 🤦‍♀️

You're embarrassing yourself by demonstrating your inability to read basic English words.

[MonkehMaster]

no one cares what said updates are named, the updates are for nt 6.1, end of story.

move on and have a nice day

[bidulless]

Meatflaps lähetti viestin:

bidulless lähetti viestin:

download the fike you linked and right click on it , select unzip here and it will unzip
inside thie unziped folder
Windows6.1-KB5043092-x86-pkgProperties.txt
open it with notepad
/-------------------------------------
ApplicabilityInfo="Windows 7.0 Client SP1;Windows 7.0 Embedded SP1;Windows 7.0 WinPE 3.1;"
Applies to="Windows 6.1"
Build Date="2024/09/02"
Company="Microsoft Corporation"
File Version="1"
Installation Type="FULL"
Installer Engine="Component Based Servicing - WUSA.exe"
Installer Version="6.1.7601.26614"
KB Article Number="5043092"
Language="ALL"
Package Type="Security Update"
Processor Architecture="x86"
Product Name="Windows 6.1"
Support Link="https://support.microsoft.com/help/5043092"
/--------------------------------------------------------
taken from your link
https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB5043092
mais honetement, mec , tu me soules un peu trop avec tes idioties constantes que tu postes ....
Je ne fais la promotion de rien, j'ai juste compris pourquoi et comment l'application de telles mises à jour étaient possible sur windows 7 ,et tu devrais en faire de même : au moins tu apprendrais quelque chose

I'm fairly sure by now that you actually don't understand how to read English or if you do read it you don't understand what it is that you're reading. It very clearly says right there on the website Windows Server and Windows Embedded Standard 7.

It's like you see the website then you come to the steam forums and write complete BS that indicates you actually did not even read the website. 🤦‍♀️

You're embarrassing yourself by demonstrating your inability to read basic English words.

hello

maintenant , explique nous pourquoi ces 2 fichiers sont absolument identiques bien qu'étant destinés à des sku windows différentes ( windows 2008r2 et windows 7 embedded)?

https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB5043092

2024-09 Security Only Quality Update for Windows Server 2008 R2 for x64-based Systems (KB5043092)
2024-09 Security Only Quality Update for Windows Embedded Standard 7 for x64-based Systems (KB5043092)
et ceci directement depuis ce que tu as posté mec ...

[NakiBest]

To chime in, 1 or more of my post(s) here in this thread were/was again silently moderated. :) (i.e. deleted without a trace)

Nice! Really nice job on that..

[Master.Constructor]

Meatflaps lähetti viestin:

Master.Constructor lähetti viestin:

I would strongly recommend that you try it yourself and then report back with the results.

I would strongly recommend you cease with your "agenda" of spreading completely false technical information in the steam forums.

I hope one day you find the help that you're looking for. In the meantime please share your results. Windows 7 SP3 is far from perfect but it sure is great. :D

[Master.Constructor]

ImperatorPavel lähetti viestin:

xBCxRangers lähetti viestin:

Is that a factual number? Sincere question being don't know how much it changed, but last i saw, 1.23% of Win 7 users out of 130 million is more than a million Win 7 users.

Windows 7 users, as of last month's survey, are about 0.3% of Steam's population. At Steam's MAU, it's 409,200 users.

With Steam's peak userbase number, that's about 115,804 people.

Not a terribly relevant number, over the rest of the population, but it's a number. Said user was probably being hyperbolic

Last I checked there were more Win7 users on Steam than SteamDeckOS?

[Master.Constructor]

Meatflaps lähetti viestin:

bidulless lähetti viestin:

hello
agree with you @Weird Pumpkin
and as you can see he was also activ here spreading the same bs as here...
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/7119694909421919282/

The only people spreading BS is you and the OP here claiming there are new updates for Windows 7 when you know there is no such thing.

The current version of Windows 7 is: 6.1.7601.27317 (2024.9.10)

You can check your version by looking at the [Details] tab of the following file [Properties]

kernelbase.dll
kernel32.dll
ntdll.dll
wow64.dll
ntfs.sys
win32k.sys

[NakiBest]

Doesn't winver command show the same too?

(without looking at any files Properties)

[bidulless]

NakiBest lähetti viestin:

Doesn't winver command show the same too?

(without looking at any files Properties)

hello
powershell does; winvers no clue, let me check
it just make the little windows popup
https://i.postimg.cc/gJw8GGzL/Capture.jpg
or you can check registry
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/7119694909421919282/?ctp=10#c6982351509014607007
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/7119694909421919282/?ctp=11#c6982351509014915852
checking this old thread it's funny to see that this kind of thread always attract the same kind of bozo
sometimes i read some post from it just for a good laught

[Weird Pumpkin]

Meatflaps lähetti viestin:

Weird Pumpkin lähetti viestin:

You don't seem to understand a lot of what I'm trying to convey here

I understand everything clearly.

Weird Pumpkin lähetti viestin:

You don't seem to understand that Microsoft is one of the most mistrusted companies on the globe right now.

So let's get this straight here once and for all: You rather get updates for your operating system from a completely random nobody person on the internet instead of the actual company that created the operating system? Okay then. At least we got that out of the way.

Weird Pumpkin lähetti viestin:

And on a final point, you can still inspect the effectiveness of UpdatePack7 by applying what the OP of this discussion is trying to tell you to do to. And test weather it actually accomplishes the goals it's claiming.

UpdatePack7 claims to update Windows 7. Unfortunately that is technically impossible as no updates exist for Windows 7 that it could even possibly apply. Literally does not exist. It can not apply updates when they are not there. I'm still confused why people can't seem to understand this.

Weird Pumpkin lähetti viestin:

most people are not entering this thread with an unbiased take. They're here to reaffirm what they already believe.

What is actually happening is the OP of this thread intentionally worded the original first post of the thread in such a way that anyone who is still using Windows 7 will see the title and think "Oh hey! There's new updates for Windows 7! I should get this and install it!". Unfortunately that is EXTREMELY deceptive. As I said above: There are no updates for Windows 7. This thread and the OP are giving Windows 7 users a false sense of security. The OP actually thinks that if people run UpdatePack7 it will some how update their computer when it does not. That is why I'm writing my comments. No one else is saying anything and someone has to. If I didn't say something then people would be downloading UpdatePack7, running it, and thinking their computer was updated when in reality UpdatePack7 doesn't update anything. They are no more secure after installing it than they were before running UpdatePack7.

Weird Pumpkin lähetti viestin:

And the problem is that in order to manipulate this belief towards your side, you actually have to get your hands dirty and do enough research and find enough evidence to actually change minds.

In this case I actually do not need to research anything. Microsoft very clearly labeled the update describing exactly which versions of windows it should be installed on. All I have to do is remind people of the truth that these updates are not for Windows 7 and should not be installed in Windows 7. Nothing more.

Weird Pumpkin lähetti viestin:

The issue isn't that people are being stubborn about Windows7 and want to keep arguing about it with you. It's that you haven't actually given a tangible source of evidence outside of conjecture against their claimed results.

I haven't? Okay. Here's the the most recent 2 updates that is installed inside of UpdatePack7, viewed directly on the Microsoft catalog website:

https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB5043092
https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=KB5043129

You can go read it yourself. Do note that it DOES NOT say that this is for normal versions of Windows 7. Then also note that this is what UpdatePack7 is doing: It downloads the wrong updates for the wrong version of windows, modifies them so they won't complain about being in the wrong operating system then allows them to be installed in normal versions of Windows 7. That's what I'm talking about. That's the biggest problem.

Weird Pumpkin lähetti viestin:

So even if you warn people, they're still going to install it as they already intended to.

I seriously hope this does not happen. No one should actually be using UpdatePack7 for any reason.

Weird Pumpkin lähetti viestin:

There are people here who are objectively operating on Windows 7 comfortably.

I hope they continue to do so. However anyone using Windows 7 needs to understand these basic facts: there are no updates for their operating system. None. Microsoft will never release another update for Windows 7 ever again at any point in time. Not tomorrow. Not next month. Not next year. Never. Anyone claiming to have any updates for Windows 7 is completely lying.

You're just being intellectually dishonest now. Look man all I'm asking is that you install Updatepack7 in a safe environment and give us the proof as to why it's not working by actively listing specific examples of it not effecting the software the people running this thread are trying to express you try yourself. If you keep avoiding this, people will continue disagreeing. You fully know this and want this discussion to go nowhere. You're repeating yourself again and again for nobody's benefit. And it's dragging down any potential discussions about why this might not work. Which is telling me and everybody else you don't actually have the technical prowess to actually do this. Which tells me you don't actually know what you're talking about. I'm siding with UpdatePack7 until you can prove otherwise. And it seems that you actually can't so please stop spamming this board.

[NakiBest]

bidulless lähetti viestin:

NakiBest lähetti viestin:

Doesn't winver command show the same too?

(without looking at any files Properties)

hello
powershell does; winvers no clue, let me check
it just make the little windows popup
https://i.postimg.cc/gJw8GGzL/Capture.jpg
or you can check registry
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/7119694909421919282/?ctp=10#c6982351509014607007
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/7119694909421919282/?ctp=11#c6982351509014915852
checking this old thread it's funny to see that this kind of thread always attract the same kind of bozo
sometimes i read some post from it just for a good laught

Thanks! :)

I guess I am spoiled by Windows 10 & 11 winver, which shows very detailed Version + Build info. I forgot Windows 7's winver version does not! :)

[bidulless]

NakiBest lähetti viestin:

bidulless lähetti viestin:

hello
powershell does; winvers no clue, let me check
it just make the little windows popup
https://i.postimg.cc/gJw8GGzL/Capture.jpg
or you can check registry
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/7119694909421919282/?ctp=10#c6982351509014607007
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/7119694909421919282/?ctp=11#c6982351509014915852
checking this old thread it's funny to see that this kind of thread always attract the same kind of bozo
sometimes i read some post from it just for a good laught

Thanks! :)

I guess I am spoiled by Windows 10 & 11 winver, which shows very detailed Version + Build info. I forgot Windows 7's winver version does not! :)

hello
aye it's very limited on w7 .... best is to check registry or use powershell

[Meatflaps]

MonkehMaster lähetti viestin:

no one cares what said updates are named, the updates are for nt 6.1, end of story.

move on and have a nice day :gk_smile:

I already told you about that before: There is no such thing as "NT 6.1 updates". That literally does not exist anywhere on any computer or any website. You completely made that up.