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)

[AlexTheRedScout]

Meatflaps eredeti hozzászólása:

Complete Domination eredeti hozzászólása:

Yeeesh, what's up with that? It's like having legal keylogger 24/7 on your computer, what the hell microsoft?

All of that can be turned off and disabled. People scream about these parts of Windows 10 as if it's the end of the world and it's not. It's literally just a setting to flick off and it's off forever.

yeah windows 10 is windows 7 but better you can easily turn off alot of the settings

[Weird Pumpkin]

Meatflaps eredeti hozzászólása:

Complete Domination eredeti hozzászólása:

Yeeesh, what's up with that? It's like having legal keylogger 24/7 on your computer, what the hell microsoft?

All of that can be turned off and disabled. People scream about these parts of Windows 10 as if it's the end of the world and it's not. It's literally just a setting to flick off and it's off forever.

I would point out that if it's a function that's automatically turned on, you can easily assume there's other functions that cannot be turned off. Your telemetry is always transparent to them.

[lailaamell]

Weird Pumpkin eredeti hozzászólása:

Meatflaps eredeti hozzászólása:

All of that can be turned off and disabled. People scream about these parts of Windows 10 as if it's the end of the world and it's not. It's literally just a setting to flick off and it's off forever.

I would point out that if it a function that's automatically turned on, you can easily assume there's other functions that cannot be turned off. Your telemetry is always transparent to them.

and turning it off was a bug it can never be turned off

[Komarimaru]

Oddly never had any issues disabling anything in Windows. But I always get the higher tier versions like Pro etc. And have education on how to do things.

[lailaamell]

Komarimaru eredeti hozzászólása:

Oddly never had any issues disabling anything in Windows. But I always get the higher tier versions like Pro etc. And have education on how to do things.

the recall thing is not possible to turn off microsoft basicly made it mandatory on 11

[Master.Constructor]

Meatflaps eredeti hozzászólása:

Complete Domination eredeti hozzászólása:

Yeeesh, what's up with that? It's like having legal keylogger 24/7 on your computer, what the hell microsoft?

All of that can be turned off and disabled. People scream about these parts of Windows 10 as if it's the end of the world and it's not. It's literally just a setting to flick off and it's off forever.

This is one (of the many) problems I have with Win10/11 ... it's extra work and you need to keep on top of it if you want a "clean" OS. I have not had this issue with Win7 since I started using UpdatePack7 about four years ago. I wish there was an UpdatePack8.1/10, I'd be all over that.

[lailaamell]

Master.Constructor eredeti hozzászólása:

Meatflaps eredeti hozzászólása:

All of that can be turned off and disabled. People scream about these parts of Windows 10 as if it's the end of the world and it's not. It's literally just a setting to flick off and it's off forever.

This is one (of the many) problems I have with Win10/11 ... it's extra work and you need to keep on top of it if you want a "clean" OS. I have not had this issue with Win7 since I started using UpdatePack7 about four years ago. I wish there was an UpdatePack8.1/10, I'd be all over that.

win 7 is way more modern than 10/11

[Komarimaru]

lailaamell eredeti hozzászólása:

Komarimaru eredeti hozzászólása:

Oddly never had any issues disabling anything in Windows. But I always get the higher tier versions like Pro etc. And have education on how to do things.

the recall thing is not possible to turn off microsoft basicly made it mandatory on 11

Heh, really? Interesting, since mine is disabled.

Like I said, if you know what to do, anything can be done in seconds.

[SqueakyTweaky]

lailaamell eredeti hozzászólása:

Master.Constructor eredeti hozzászólása:

This is one (of the many) problems I have with Win10/11 ... it's extra work and you need to keep on top of it if you want a "clean" OS. I have not had this issue with Win7 since I started using UpdatePack7 about four years ago. I wish there was an UpdatePack8.1/10, I'd be all over that.

win 7 is way more modern than 10/11

You could say then that a dacia duster is way more prettier than a Ferrari, but in both cases it would be a lie since neither win 7 and the duster have no sort of appeal in 2024.

[Wolfpig]

lailaamell eredeti hozzászólása:

Komarimaru eredeti hozzászólása:

Oddly never had any issues disabling anything in Windows. But I always get the higher tier versions like Pro etc. And have education on how to do things.

the recall thing is not possible to turn off microsoft basicly made it mandatory on 11

recall does not even work on 95% of consumer PCs which got sold in the last 5 years....so it is not even used on those machines at all as that feature needs an "AI Capable" CPU (aka those newer ones with those tensor cores)

[Crashed]

Wolfpig eredeti hozzászólása:

lailaamell eredeti hozzászólása:

the recall thing is not possible to turn off microsoft basicly made it mandatory on 11

recall does not even work on 95% of consumer PCs which got sold in the last 5 years....so it is not even used on those machines at all as that feature needs an "AI Capable" CPU (aka those newer ones with those tensor cores)

What got people outraged in the latest round is that parts of Explorer seemed to have an intertwined dependency on the Recall package. While the base Recall package may be preinstalled it currently only contains the runtime environment to run the application, and it is opt-in.

[bidulless]

Crashed eredeti hozzászólása:

Wolfpig eredeti hozzászólása:

recall does not even work on 95% of consumer PCs which got sold in the last 5 years....so it is not even used on those machines at all as that feature needs an "AI Capable" CPU (aka those newer ones with those tensor cores)

What got people outraged in the latest round is that parts of Explorer seemed to have an intertwined dependency on the Recall package. While the base Recall package may be preinstalled it currently only contains the runtime environment to run the application, and it is opt-in.

hello
what and how ?
i find nothing in windows 11 ..( 24h2)

[Master.Constructor]

bidulless eredeti hozzászólása:

Crashed eredeti hozzászólása:

What got people outraged in the latest round is that parts of Explorer seemed to have an intertwined dependency on the Recall package. While the base Recall package may be preinstalled it currently only contains the runtime environment to run the application, and it is opt-in.

hello
what and how ?
i find nothing in windows 11 ..( 24h2)

Last I heard from CTT is that Recall is a permanent part of Win11 but it seems to be disabled by default (or can be disabled). He said it can't be removed but he's going to keep an eye on it and post an update when he finds out more info.

[bidulless]

Master.Constructor eredeti hozzászólása:

bidulless eredeti hozzászólása:

hello
what and how ?
i find nothing in windows 11 ..( 24h2)

Last I heard from CTT is that Recall is a permanent part of Win11 but it seems to be disabled by default (or can be disabled). He said it can't be removed but he's going to keep an eye on it and post an update when he finds out more info.

hello
no clue because i have nothing about recall on mine ... i wonder what @Crashed wanted to said
And nothing from services or scheduler ....

[Clone303]

Nice, Windows 7 FTW, greatest Windows made yet