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)

[Ontrix_Kitsune]

引用自 Lixire：

Correction about those updates. those updates will in fact install and apply system-wide with the changes being reflected in the build number within the registry and other system components. so those updates do update Windows 7

This is completely false and known as "Fake news": Nothing can update Windows 7. There are no updates for Windows 7. Server updates only apply to server operating systems that they are designed for, NOT for Windows 7.

[Ontrix_Kitsune]

引用自 Master.Constructor：

I will look further into this but so far Win7 2025.2.12 does not disappoint.

There is no such thing as "Win7 2025.2.12". That does not exist at all. There is no 2025 update for Windows 7.

[Lixire]

引用自 Ontrix_Kitsune：

引用自 Lixire：

Correction about those updates. those updates will in fact install and apply system-wide with the changes being reflected in the build number within the registry and other system components. so those updates do update Windows 7

This is completely false and known as "Fake news": Nothing can update Windows 7. There are no updates for Windows 7. Server updates only apply to server operating systems that they are designed for, NOT for Windows 7.

You are more than welcome to try this tool in a Windows 7 VM and do check for the changes being done. the tool does install the updates through a bypass but I wouldn't recommend anyone to install it due to the reasons I mentioned above i.e software piracy and possible compatibility issues.
Speaking of which, expect Windows 10 22H2 to get it's own version of BypassESU to keep security updates going until Oct 2028

I'm not endorsing the usage of such tools and rather testing them out for the sake of curiousity. my main rig is on Windows 11 24H2

[Lixire]

引用自 Crashed：

引用自 Lixire：

Correction about those updates. those updates will in fact install and apply system-wide with the changes being reflected in the build number within the registry and other system components. so those updates do update Windows 7
However, the reasons I will often suggest against installing those is the legal matter since 2020-02 updates and newer require an ESU license to be installed which UpdatePack7 does bypass and forces installation anyway. so people who use it actively engage in software piracy. for those who care about it, that's an issue..

the second is rather compatibility. a couple of months ago Microsoft did release an update to Server 2008 R2 which broke every Chrome based application due to security fixes within the video stack of the OS.
Since Windows Server machines often used as a Domain Controller or hosting different services like IIS. Microsoft won't check the updates against software like Discord, Steam and etc as they have 0 reason to do so and if something is broken. You are pretty much at the mercy of businesses reporting those issues.

Very good writeup, especially on the legal and compatibility issues that arise from installing these updates in an unofficial manner. That said my instances of Windows Server Insider Preview run as domain controllers and associated Windows Server roles, and I file feedback accordingly as a Windows Insider.

I'm pretty much in the Insider program as well for a good number of years tho regular Windows under the Beta channel.
I probably won't get to the point of testing Windows Server in the Insider program due to lack of interest as I mostly maintain our DCs and different application servers on Server 2019

[Ontrix_Kitsune]

引用自 Lixire：

You are more than welcome to try this tool in a Windows 7 VM and do check for the changes being done.

Yes you can modify the installer and install server updates in Windows 7. That is possible. It does not actually update anything though. Installing server updates into Windows 7 is a "Placebo Effect" of leading people to think that they updated their computer when they never updated anything.

People are using this tactic to try and convince others to continue using Windows 7 longer by lying to them so they think that they have updated their Windows 7 computer. This is rather dangerous as they are using an unpatched operating system that not only isn't being updated but can't be updated.

Most Windows 7 users don't realize that server updates aren't updating anything. They think they're safe to just continue using Windows 7 online when it's actually not safe to be doing that with no security updates.

That's why I write the comments that I have been writing and continue to do so. I think it is very important that anyone using Windows 7 that finds this thread understands that these updates do not, can not, and will not update their computer. I think it is also important that they understand nothing can update Windows 7. It's never going to be safe to use on the internet ever again now that updates have stopped forever for Windows 7.

[Crashed]

引用自 Ontrix_Kitsune：

引用自 Lixire：

You are more than welcome to try this tool in a Windows 7 VM and do check for the changes being done.

Yes you can modify the installer and install server updates in Windows 7. That is possible. It does not actually update anything though. Installing server updates into Windows 7 is a "Placebo Effect" of leading people to think that they updated their computer when they never updated anything.

People are using this tactic to try and convince people to continue using Windows 7 longer by lying to them so they think that they have updated their Windows 7 computer. This is rather dangerous as they are using an unpatched operating system that not only isn't being updated but can't be updated.

Most Windows 7 users don't realize that server updates aren't updating anything. They think they're safe to just continue using Windows 7 online when it's actually not safe to be doing that with no security updates.

That's why I write the comments that I have been writing and continue to do so. I think it is very important that anyone using Windows 7 that finds this thread understands that these updates do not, can not, and will not update their computer. I think it is also important that they understand nothing can update Windows 7. It's never going to be safe to use on the internet ever again now that updates have stopped forever for Windows 7.

It might update the kernel and some low-level components but those would only be components still in common use on Server instances, with Client-facing features being left to rot.

[Ontrix_Kitsune]

引用自 Crashed：

It might update the kernel and some low-level components but those would only be components still in common use on Server instances, with Client-facing features being left to rot.

Server updates do not update Windows 7 as those updates are not designed for Windows 7.

[Crashed]

引用自 Ontrix_Kitsune：

引用自 Crashed：

It might update the kernel and some low-level components but those would only be components still in common use on Server instances, with Client-facing features being left to rot.

Server updates do not update Windows 7 as those updates are not designed for Windows 7.

Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 share the same kernel, so these unofficial updaters may be forcing the files onto Windows 7 systems with zero regard for the risk of breaking things horribly.

[Ontrix_Kitsune]

引用自 Crashed：

Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 share the same kernel, so these unofficial updaters may be forcing the files onto Windows 7 systems with zero regard for the risk of breaking things horribly.

There's that too: It's completely unknown what stability issues may occur down the road from installing the wrong updates into the wrong version of Windows. Many Windows 7 users intend to continue using their computers for a long time (multiple years). It would be completely awful if they rendered their system unstable and gave it frequent crashes just because they installed something "the rest of the community" said was "updating their computer".

No one should listen to random people on the internet about updates to their computer, or random programs from literally unknown nobody people in some random place out there in the world releasing random programs claiming to "update their computer".

If there is an update for Windows 7 it will be listed in Windows Update. If nothing is listed then there are no updates for their computer. If it's not in Windows Update then don't install it.

[Bloody Moon]

In October the support for updates for windows 10 will also end, if valve will stop supporting windows 10 as it did with windows 7 it will force users to change system and I don't need to change pc. The best "my" decision would be to abandon this castrated and limited platform, play on GOG and consoles.

[Lixire]

引用自 Bloody Moon：

In October the support for updates for windows 10 will also end, if valve will stop supporting windows 10 as it did with windows 7 it will force users to change system and I don't need to change pc. The best "my" decision would be to abandon this castrated and limited platform, play on GOG and consoles.

Just because Microsoft drops support for an OS it doesn't mean that application support will go right away with it.
I do expect Steam to support 10 well into the early 2030s

[Phoenix]

I use Windows 10 (not by choice), but I find it hilarious when people say 7 was the most insecure ... hell with 10 Microsoft has had multiple months with extreme amount of vulnerabilities (160 for example, in January alone)

https://www.tomsguide.com/computing/operating-systems/microsoft-patches-over-160-security-flaws-including-3-active-zero-days-update-your-pc-right-now

[Master.Constructor]

I've finished updating a few Win7 PC's with the expected results, everything looks good.

New Windows 7 version is ...
6.1.7601.27566

You can check the [Properties] > [Details] of the following system files to check:

hal.dll
kernel32.dll
ntdll.dll
ntfs.sys
processr.sys
wow64cpu.dll

[Master.Constructor]

引用自 Crashed：

引用自 Ontrix_Kitsune：

Yes you can modify the installer and install server updates in Windows 7. That is possible. ...

It might update the kernel and some low-level components but those would only be components still in common use on Server instances, with Client-facing features being left to rot.

By my rough count the latest Microsoft security rollup for 6.1.7601 (KB5052016) updates ~100-200 system files but there are thousands contained in the rollup. Just checked the version / modify date of DLL and SYS files in \system32 and \syswow64 on this Windows 7 system.

[Master.Constructor]

引用自 Bloody Moon：

In October the support for updates for windows 10 will also end, if valve will stop supporting windows 10 as it did with windows 7 it will force users to change system and I don't need to change pc. The best "my" decision would be to abandon this castrated and limited platform, play on GOG and consoles.

This is certainly one option but I expect Win10 to stick around for many years to come. Another would be to test out Linux on a spare machine / drive or try dual-booting.

I'm currently testing Win10 for myself via dual-boot and might throw Linux into the mix as well.