Windows 7 April Update

[Master.Constructor]

July UpdatePack7 2024.7.10 is out and is running fine for me. I've installed it on several of my Win7 machines and no issues to report.

I'm sure that there are many Win7 users out there that are unaware of these monthly updates. My experience has been very good since I started using them in 2021. One download will update a fresh install of Windows 7 SP1 to current day (or you can update the ISO before installing). Save time and bandwidth, it's basically SP2.

Steam seems fine. No real issues to report.

If you have any suggestions on improving the stability or utility of Windows 7 please share with us.

======
Update: New Steam client on June 13 seems to be working better than previous.
Update: UpdatePack7 24.6.12 (June 2024) is delivering as expected.
Update: July updates are delivering as expected.

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

UpdatePack7 2024.7.10
- Added KB5039909-x86-x64 (replaces KB5036626-x86-x64)
- Added KB5040497-x86-x64 with disabling telemetry and processor checking (replaces KB5039289-x86-x64)
- Updated universal USB3 driver

[invas0r]

lsdninja původně napsal:

Daedalus007 původně napsal:

Valve absolutely threatened to shut off access entirely for anyone not on Win10 or higher. The only reason they didn't do so is the threats of massive multiple class-action lawsuits over it.

A dozen (if that) people impotently threatening to sue Valve over this isn't "massive", even by the standards set by the pitifully small number of users still on Windows 7. The client will eventually become unusable on 7 the same as it did for XP and 98 before it, don't kid yourself otherwise.

Master.Constructor původně napsal:

lsdninja původně napsal:

Nah, November is the important one because that'll be right after MSs established deadline for their support of 7 Embedded POSReady, which is likely what these "updates" are targeting. If you're still getting these updates at that point, *then* you can claim these updates are worth a damn.

They have been "worth a damn" every month for the last three years that I've used them. This month is no different.

76561198083042378 původně napsal:

Daedalus007 původně napsal:

It is one thing to say 'no tech support' for older OSes but if they actively block Steam users from using said OS they will find themselves at the center of multiple concurrent class action lawsuits and a massive PR headache. Considering how afraid they are of Nintendo they don't want to try to risk any more legal problems in early 2024.

I'm dual booting Linux Mint and Win7 at the moment, but will likely drop Win7 if I can get full compatibility done with everything I play. That will be the real test.

Similar situation, not giving up Black Desert and/or some of my development software for Mint though. And steem is running quite well on win7 even now. Hilarious to watch steem offer a worse experience than piracy though lol. Thought gabe was all about being the better choice? Not when it undercuts steems billions apparently lmao.

ya bludy bumlick
noobatrons getrekt.com

[Shaggin'Wagon]

invas0r původně napsal:

lsdninja původně napsal:

A dozen (if that) people impotently threatening to sue Valve over this isn't "massive", even by the standards set by the pitifully small number of users still on Windows 7. The client will eventually become unusable on 7 the same as it did for XP and 98 before it, don't kid yourself otherwise.

Master.Constructor původně napsal:

They have been "worth a damn" every month for the last three years that I've used them. This month is no different.

76561198083042378 původně napsal:

Similar situation, not giving up Black Desert and/or some of my development software for Mint though. And steem is running quite well on win7 even now. Hilarious to watch steem offer a worse experience than piracy though lol. Thought gabe was all about being the better choice? Not when it undercuts steems billions apparently lmao.

ya bludy bumlick
noobatrons getrekt.com

Why are you responding to a comment that someone wrote 5 months ago? 🤪

[BionicSeaSerpent]

QWEEDDY2 původně napsal:

There is no right solution here. All ways Microsoft provide are no go. I suggest either stay on Enterprise Win7 iso ignoring all updates except very few hotfixes installed every manually (some only by Internet Archive).

Another way is get Macintosh or Hackingtosh.

Or install Linux. Not the right solution either. 2024 it is still a lot of issues. And distro holywar. SteamOS looks best but again - its what we got provided. We have either trash products (paid), or unavailable products/limited restricted to hardware.

Every ways have issues and hard choices. Any better and always was than PC-UWP Ms Windows 10+ or Microsoft in general. I said as an Windows and Win7 fanboi. Nvidia specific issues (especially for Intel+NV Optimus technology) also always appear only on Windows. Again, NV fanboi here.

But i cheer for SteamOS as non-ValveSteam fanboi. Never was. I hate Valve for what they did to PC gaming in 2003 and what they become today.
But as i get it, SteamOS is best their product of all soft/hardware they made. Speaking only by someone else exp to use it and video reviews, Valves updates newsletters. SteamOS is only get proper support service and customer support service.

(I fanboi of Windows cause im too much into mathematical logic, i need some standard OS to install and not been a part of distro holywars, those my choices are Windows or SteamOS or Ubuntu maybe? But Ubuntu didnt worked when i try it refuse to log in after updates. ArchLinux maybe? ArchSteamLinux fork of SteamOS? But that one no more official standard...)

I personally suggest ignore what OP provide here.
But i wont go to insult him for creating this thread as it is one of the ways. There is logic and technical reasons to such ServicePacks exist.

the real big brainers just end up using linux anyway. Brainlets are the only ones that could ever consider Mac.

[Master.Constructor]

QWEEDDY2 původně napsal:

There is no right solution here. All ways Microsoft provide are no go. I suggest either stay on Enterprise Win7 iso ignoring all updates except very few hotfixes installed every manually (some only by Internet Archive).
...
But i cheer for SteamOS as non-ValveSteam fanboi. Never was. I hate Valve for what they did to PC gaming in 2003 and what they become today.
...
I personally suggest ignore what OP provide here.
But i wont go to insult him for creating this thread as it is one of the ways. There is logic and technical reasons to such ServicePacks exist.

I always have hope that SteamOS might be a usable desktop OS in the near future but that could still be many years away. As it stands, UpdatePack7 is essentially the SP2 that Windows 7 needs and it's also about the same size (~900MB SP1 vs ~800MB UpdatePack7).

If anyone knows of a better, easier way to setup a slick Win7 system please post your ideas / results. So for I'm extremely pleased with how well my PCs are running these days.

[SqueakyTweaky]

Window 7 is history, kaput. The sooner you accept it the better it is

[BionicSeaSerpent]

Master.Constructor původně napsal:

QWEEDDY2 původně napsal:

There is no right solution here. All ways Microsoft provide are no go. I suggest either stay on Enterprise Win7 iso ignoring all updates except very few hotfixes installed every manually (some only by Internet Archive).
...
But i cheer for SteamOS as non-ValveSteam fanboi. Never was. I hate Valve for what they did to PC gaming in 2003 and what they become today.
...
I personally suggest ignore what OP provide here.
But i wont go to insult him for creating this thread as it is one of the ways. There is logic and technical reasons to such ServicePacks exist.

I always have hope that SteamOS might be a usable desktop OS in the near future but that could still be many years away. As it stands, UpdatePack7 is essentially the SP2 that Windows 7 needs and it's also about the same size (~900MB SP1 vs ~800MB UpdatePack7).

If anyone knows of a better, easier way to setup a slick Win7 system please post your ideas / results. So for I'm extremely pleased with how well my PCs are running these days.

firstly: we're just about there with Holo ISO. only real issue is the green graphics company who doesn't give a ♥♥♥♥ about us consumers.
Secondly: DO NOT START ACTING LIKE UPDATEPACK7 IS A SERVICE PACK IN ANY WAY. IT IS NOT. PEOPLE, DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS GUYS ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. DO NOT INSTALL THIS, DO NOT USE WINDOWS 7 ANYMORE!

[Master.Constructor]

BlackBloodRum původně napsal:

BionicSeaSerpent původně napsal:

firstly: we're just about there with Holo ISO. only real issue is the green graphics company who doesn't give a ♥♥♥♥ about us consumers.
Secondly: DO NOT START ACTING LIKE UPDATEPACK7 IS A SERVICE PACK IN ANY WAY. IT IS NOT. PEOPLE, DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS GUYS ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. DO NOT INSTALL THIS, DO NOT USE WINDOWS 7 ANYMORE!

It's worth a mention that if your goal is simply a tux for gaming; Bazzite may be an option.

If you want simple, and an OS that when it breaks can be fixed by a simple reboot, Fedora Silverblue/Kinoite may be an option. (Bazzite is based on this, so the same applies.)

I'm mostly interested in a complete replacement to Win7SP2, I've tried dual/triple boot in the past with Linux but it never really works out for me. If I can get a Linux distro that can do everything Win7 does without too much hassle then I'd be interested.

For now I'm interested in doing fresh / clean installs of Win7SP2 and get it streamlined. If that works well then I'll just keep riding it out until I need to change.

[Master.Constructor]

BlackBloodRum původně napsal:

Master.Constructor původně napsal:

I'm mostly interested in a complete replacement to Win7SP2, I've tried dual/triple boot in the past with Linux but it never really works out for me. If I can get a Linux distro that can do everything Win7 does without too much hassle then I'd be interested.

For now I'm interested in doing fresh / clean installs of Win7SP2 and get it streamlined. If that works well then I'll just keep riding it out until I need to change.

Personally, I believe in freedom of choice, and control over your computer. Which means if you wish to use Windows 7 - that's your choice to do so, and I won't try to stop you or convince you otherwise.

With that said; to address your points about Linux, for purely informational reasons:

Everything Windows 7 does is a broad thing to ask. I'm sure it's more the case that there are particular things you need/want? It will never be identical, and that's by design. But, there will be similarities. Perhaps it would be best to look into the more 'I really need XYZ things' rather than simply 'I want it to be identical'.

Yes I see your point about "identical" but really I'm just looking for reliable compatibility. There's software I've been using for 10-20 years and going through everything to find out what works, or what has a suitable alternative, can take up significant time and energy.

When Win7 starts becoming non-serviceable for me I might build a test PC for Linux to see how far I can get. At the same time I might also entertain a "clean" build of Win10 and see how that goes. Either way it's time and energy required.

[BionicSeaSerpent]

Master.Constructor původně napsal:

BlackBloodRum původně napsal:

It's worth a mention that if your goal is simply a tux for gaming; Bazzite may be an option.

If you want simple, and an OS that when it breaks can be fixed by a simple reboot, Fedora Silverblue/Kinoite may be an option. (Bazzite is based on this, so the same applies.)

I'm mostly interested in a complete replacement to Win7SP2, I've tried dual/triple boot in the past with Linux but it never really works out for me. If I can get a Linux distro that can do everything Win7 does without too much hassle then I'd be interested.

For now I'm interested in doing fresh / clean installs of Win7SP2 and get it streamlined. If that works well then I'll just keep riding it out until I need to change.

DON'T REFFER TO UPDATEPACK AS SP2, YOU'RE INTENTIONALLY BEING MALICIOUS NOW.

[QWEEDDY2]

Whats your all agenda here? I mean. Maybe it is relly better not to mention UP7 in any ways. oK. What the point of "stop using Win7"? Agenda and what the point. Tell me who have a good knowledge and experience in computing wat that supposed to mean?

And tell me as person to person, in term of lets say psychology, what do you want by your insisting Win7 are better safer and LATEST PC-Win Windows released?

You all sound like Linux newbies who try to popularized it (for no reason to do that) in some own agendas. But for Windows UWP in subj case.

[Master.Constructor]

BlackBloodRum původně napsal:

Master.Constructor původně napsal:

Yes I see your point about "identical" but really I'm just looking for reliable compatibility. There's software I've been using for 10-20 years and going through everything to find out what works, or what has a suitable alternative, can take up significant time and energy.

When Win7 starts becoming non-serviceable for me I might build a test PC for Linux to see how far I can get. At the same time I might also entertain a "clean" build of Win10 and see how that goes. Either way it's time and energy required.

I agree, that would take time and energy to go through, and perhaps some frustration too. Though, consider that the time and energy put into those things is ultimately to your own benefit.

For the Linux side, a quick glance may be to go through WineHQ's compatibility database[1]. This should help you quickly identify what already works, and what might become an issue and where you may wish to find a suitable native replacement (if one exists).

Regarding Windows 10, I can see your reasoning for this - it's more likely to be compatible with your applications, but I'd suggest at this point skipping 10 and going straight to 11 if you wish to stay with the Windows platform.

The reasoning for this is simple: Upgrading to 10 will, as you mentioned, require time and effort. The problem then becomes that it may be wasted time and effort, because Microsoft plan to end update support for Windows 10 in 2025[2], which ultimately will lead you to be in the same position you are now, on an older platform which is not receiving official updates.

Ideally, if you spend time and energy to move to a new OS, then you want to ensure your target will grant you time to continue using it, with official updates.

( Again, purely informational :-) )

[1] https://appdb.winehq.org/
[2] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/release-information

Thank you for your detailed response.

I just checked three programs (off the cuff) for compatibility on WineHQ appDB and received no joy. Of those three, one is available for Linux x64, the other two only have Win/Mac versions. Having said that, I am familiar with Linux as I've tested it several times in the last 10 years but ultimately always end up back on Windows (7).

I'm sure Win10 would carry me through 2030 (at least) as Win7 is still receiving monthly updates currently as well as continued support from the larger community. The real challenge with Win10 is can a "clean" install be achieved fairly easily and can it be maintained (clean) through 2030. Maybe I will need to wait for Win10 to be EOL so that MS will loose interest in harvesting it's users.

I think Win11 is completely out of the question at this point as I'm getting flashbacks of Win10 from years gone past. The number of issues I've heard about it recently is not inspiring to say the least. At best I will watch it develop over the next 2-3 years with some interest.

Again I find myself uninspired with the choices at hand, Win7 does what I need, everyday, as it has for the last 15 years or so. It is not a "great" OS but I have developed extensive experience with "making it work".

[QWEEDDY2]

Wine DB and else Linux websites (Proton Db?) can store useful information for backward compatible of Windows 7 and Windows 10+ OSes as well.
Plus DXVK-for-Win, WineD3D-for-Win...

Also there is wrappers to wrap "compatibility" features to have Windkws 10 mode on Windows 7. Since very very majority of apps out of Ms UWP Store are actually legacy PC-WinNT/x86-64 it is enough to tell this apps Win OS is Win10 19xxxx.xxx. To get rid of hardcoded bad code of fictional block working on Win7.

[BionicSeaSerpent]

Master.Constructor původně napsal:

BlackBloodRum původně napsal:

I agree, that would take time and energy to go through, and perhaps some frustration too. Though, consider that the time and energy put into those things is ultimately to your own benefit.

For the Linux side, a quick glance may be to go through WineHQ's compatibility database[1]. This should help you quickly identify what already works, and what might become an issue and where you may wish to find a suitable native replacement (if one exists).

Regarding Windows 10, I can see your reasoning for this - it's more likely to be compatible with your applications, but I'd suggest at this point skipping 10 and going straight to 11 if you wish to stay with the Windows platform.

The reasoning for this is simple: Upgrading to 10 will, as you mentioned, require time and effort. The problem then becomes that it may be wasted time and effort, because Microsoft plan to end update support for Windows 10 in 2025[2], which ultimately will lead you to be in the same position you are now, on an older platform which is not receiving official updates.

Ideally, if you spend time and energy to move to a new OS, then you want to ensure your target will grant you time to continue using it, with official updates.

( Again, purely informational :-) )

[1] https://appdb.winehq.org/
[2] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-health/release-information

Thank you for your detailed response.

I just checked three programs (off the cuff) for compatibility on WineHQ appDB and received no joy. Of those three, one is available for Linux x64, the other two only have Win/Mac versions. Having said that, I am familiar with Linux as I've tested it several times in the last 10 years but ultimately always end up back on Windows (7).

I'm sure Win10 would carry me through 2030 (at least) as Win7 is still receiving monthly updates currently as well as continued support from the larger community. The real challenge with Win10 is can a "clean" install be achieved fairly easily and can it be maintained (clean) through 2030. Maybe I will need to wait for Win10 to be EOL so that MS will loose interest in harvesting it's users.

I think Win11 is completely out of the question at this point as I'm getting flashbacks of Win10 from years gone past. The number of issues I've heard about it recently is not inspiring to say the least. At best I will watch it develop over the next 2-3 years with some interest.

Again I find myself uninspired with the choices at hand, Win7 does what I need, everyday, as it has for the last 15 years or so. It is not a "great" OS but I have developed extensive experience with "making it work".

if you'd tested linux literally ever in the past 2 years you would of figured out that its better than 7 and stayed off of 7 entirely not saying you're lying about having tried linux. but i'm saying you're either lying about how long you've been testing it or you've seriously chalked up your user errors to be the fault of linux when it is not.

[QWEEDDY2]

Linux are better than Win7.
But which distro to install? Are Unofficial SteamOS fork are ok?

[BionicSeaSerpent]

QWEEDDY2 původně napsal:

Linux are better than Win7.
But which distro to install? Are Unofficial SteamOS fork are ok?

Avoiding Ubuntu and anything based on it at all costs is the #1 bit of info you need. steering clear of anything to do with Ubuntu is the #1 tip to remove the majority of frustrations.