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)

[Nebgama]

Windows updates have also been signed since the SHA2 update in 2019 so it means something like Simplex cannot alter them else windows would pack a poo and not install them.

Which totally means Simplex is not modifying anything.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/2019-sha-2-code-signing-support-requirement-for-windows-and-wsus-64d1c82d-31ee-c273-3930-69a4cde8e64f

[bidulless]

引用自 Nebgama：

Windows updates have also been signed since the SHA2 update in 2019 so it means something like Simplex cannot alter them else windows would pack a poo and not install them.

Which totally means Simplex is not modifying anything.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/2019-sha-2-code-signing-support-requirement-for-windows-and-wsus-64d1c82d-31ee-c273-3930-69a4cde8e64f

hello
no need to get argument with him, he's like people who think our earth is flat because they can't see the curvature of it xd

[Amaterasu]

引用自 bidulless：

引用自 Nebgama：

Windows updates have also been signed since the SHA2 update in 2019 so it means something like Simplex cannot alter them else windows would pack a poo and not install them.

Which totally means Simplex is not modifying anything.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/2019-sha-2-code-signing-support-requirement-for-windows-and-wsus-64d1c82d-31ee-c273-3930-69a4cde8e64f

hello
no need to get argument with him, he's like people who think our earth is flat because they can't see the curvature of it xd

Says the person who used French to constantly insult him to try to skirt the rules. He's using facts and logic, you're using emotion. By the way, using French to insult someone doesn't absolve you of breaking the rules, and yes, the mods can translate it to their native language and find out what you've said. Just like I did.

[bidulless]

引用自 Amaterasu：

引用自 bidulless：

hello
no need to get argument with him, he's like people who think our earth is flat because they can't see the curvature of it xd

Says the person who used French to constantly insult him to try to skirt the rules. He's using facts and logic, you're using emotion. By the way, using French to insult someone doesn't absolve you of breaking the rules, and yes, the mods can translate it to their native language and find out what you've said. Just like I did.

hello

funny post also but so useless ...
wanna be in my bl i guess because i do see anything interresting coming from you about the subject our OP posted but may be , it's because i am a frenchy so be yourself more technical or constructiv yourself

[Cray]

I think it's nice someone works to keep it alive for people who're stuck on Win7 :)

[bidulless]

引用自 Cray：

I think it's nice someone works to keep it alive for people who're stuck on Win7 :)

hello

true but keep in mind you do not need it for running steam on windows 7

[Amaterasu]

引用自 bidulless：

引用自 Amaterasu：

Says the person who used French to constantly insult him to try to skirt the rules. He's using facts and logic, you're using emotion. By the way, using French to insult someone doesn't absolve you of breaking the rules, and yes, the mods can translate it to their native language and find out what you've said. Just like I did.

hello

funny post also but so useless ...
wanna be in my bl i guess because i do see anything interresting coming from you about the subject our OP posted but may be , it's because i am a frenchy so be yourself more technical or constructiv yourself

That's only because you don't want to accept anything except the narrative you want to push.

Also threatening to put me on your block list? You'd be surprised about how ineffective of a threat that is to me. I don't care if you block me or not. It ain't going to stop me from reporting every single insult you and others keep slinging, or the very attempts at endorsing piracy y'all keep doing.

[Meatflaps]

引用自 Nebgama：

they are the exact same thing just different branches, Windows 7 is the consumer release of server 2008 R2 and it means that any updates targeting that are fine to install on Windows 7.

That is not true. They may be similar but they are not the same. Updates for Windows Server are not compatible with Windows 7.

引用自 Nebgama：

AGAIN SIMPLEX IS NOT INSTALLING THE WRONG UPDATES BECAUSE ITS NOT POSSIBLE AND ITS NOT MODIFYING ANY OF THOSE UPDATES.....

See here: https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/6725643788915522918/?ctp=15#c4843148393995112209

It is possible to modify the installers for windows update to get them to install in a different operating system. That is what UpdatePack7 does.

引用自 Nebgama：

MICROSOFT WOULDN"T ALLOW IT IF ITS AN ISSUE AND WE HAVE KNOWN FOR YEARS THAT INTERNALLY SERVER 2008 R2 IS THE EXACT SAME AS WINDOWS 7,

This also is not true.

引用自 Nebgama：

REGARDLESS SIMPLEX IS ONLY INSTALLING UPDATES THAT PERTAIN TO WINDOWS 7 ITS NOT DOING ANYTHING EXTRA LIKE YOU TRYING TO SAY. ITS NOT POSSIBLE FOR IT TO INSTALL THE WRONG UPDATE BECAUSE MICROSOFT MADE IT NOT POSSIBLE AND ITS NOT MODIFYING ANYTHING[/b]

If UpdatePack7 did as you claimed and only installed updates for Windows 7 then why is it installing updates that Microsoft clearly described as for Windows Server and/or Windows Embedded Standard 7 inside of UpdatePack7?

[Nebgama]

引用自 Meatflaps：

引用自 Nebgama：

they are the exact same thing just different branches, Windows 7 is the consumer release of server 2008 R2 and it means that any updates targeting that are fine to install on Windows 7.

That is not true. They may be similar but they are not the same. Updates for Windows Server are not compatible with Windows 7.

Not true dude updates can work on both these versions unless explicitly stated for one or the other, majoriy of the time they are interchangeable.

引用自 MeatAirHead：

If UpdatePack7 did as you claimed and only installed updates for Windows 7 then why is it installing updates that Microsoft clearly described as for Windows Server and/or Windows Embedded Standard 7 inside of UpdatePack7?

Because its not uncommon to see updates span over a few separate branches.

You just can't accept being wrong

[Nebgama]

Again

引用自 Nebgama：

Windows updates have also been signed since the SHA2 update in 2019 so it means something like Simplex cannot alter them else windows would pack a poo and not install them.

Which totally means Simplex is not modifying anything.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/2019-sha-2-code-signing-support-requirement-for-windows-and-wsus-64d1c82d-31ee-c273-3930-69a4cde8e64f

[Nebgama]

I am done here you have been well past proven wrong and all you are doing is padding the thread with nonsense.

Everything you have said is wrong and its been proven wrong multiple times already. I am not even out to prove you wrong i commented in here to state for others that may not know and that what you have been saying is incorrect, others may be misinformed as result.

At least now if they read past all the garbage they will see some meatflap dude spouting off while not being able to handle being incorrect.

Past all that at least they will get the right information, on the block list for you because you don't know how to be cordial and you also cannot except being wrong. I will admit when i am wrong and that is the difference between you and me cept i am not wrong here you are.

[Meatflaps]

引用自 Nebgama：

Not true dude updates can work on both these versions unless explicitly stated for one or the other, majoriy of the time they are interchangeable.

The updates included inside of UpdatePack7 are explicitly stated only for either Windows Server or Windows Embedded Standard 7.

引用自 Nebgama：

引用自 MeatAirHead：

If UpdatePack7 did as you claimed and only installed updates for Windows 7 then why is it installing updates that Microsoft clearly described as for Windows Server and/or Windows Embedded Standard 7 inside of UpdatePack7?

Because its not uncommon to see updates span over a few separate branches.

You just can't accept being wrong

I see you renamed my name there when you quoted me. That's a targeted insult. Please don't do that.

Everything I have written in this thread is true. You are attempting to spread false information.

引用自 Nebgama：

I am done here you have been well past proven wrong and all you are doing is padding the thread with nonsense.

As of yet you have not "proven" anything. You're only stating false information so far.

引用自 Nebgama：

Everything you have said is wrong and its been proven wrong multiple times already. I am not even out to prove you wrong i commented in here to state for others that may not know and that what you have been saying is incorrect, others may be misinformed as result.

I'm glad we're on the same page here. Misinformation is the entire reason I am commenting in this thread. I hope everyone can be informed about UpdatePack7, what it does and what it does not do. Specifically the part about how it does not contain any new or recent updates for Windows 7.

If not for me then people would be misled in to thinking UpdatePack7 includes updates for Windows 7 then they would install it but not actually update anything. I intend to make sure that people understand this.

[Amaterasu]

引用自 Nebgama：

I am done here you have been well past proven wrong and all you are doing is padding the thread with nonsense.

Everything you have said is wrong and its been proven wrong multiple times already. I am not even out to prove you wrong i commented in here to state for others that may not know and that what you have been saying is incorrect, others may be misinformed as result.

At least now if they read past all the garbage they will see some meatflap dude spouting off while not being able to handle being incorrect.

Past all that at least they will get the right information, on the block list for you because you don't know how to be cordial and you also cannot except being wrong. I will admit when i am wrong and that is the difference between you and me cept i am not wrong here you are.

There is no proof that has been shown that proves him wrong. Just emotion and emotion is not evidence.

[bidulless]

引用自 Amaterasu：

引用自 Nebgama：

I am done here you have been well past proven wrong and all you are doing is padding the thread with nonsense.

Everything you have said is wrong and its been proven wrong multiple times already. I am not even out to prove you wrong i commented in here to state for others that may not know and that what you have been saying is incorrect, others may be misinformed as result.

At least now if they read past all the garbage they will see some meatflap dude spouting off while not being able to handle being incorrect.

Past all that at least they will get the right information, on the block list for you because you don't know how to be cordial and you also cannot except being wrong. I will admit when i am wrong and that is the difference between you and me cept i am not wrong here you are.

There is no proof that has been shown that proves him wrong. Just emotion and emotion is not evidence.

hello
what do you want as proof, tell us and i will be glad to post it because none of both of you have the current knowedledge to do it , so please feel free to ask

[Meatflaps]

引用自 bidulless：

what do you want as proof, tell us and i will be glad to post it

There is nothing that needs to be "proven" here in regards to anything at the moment.