This topic has been locked
Workaround No Steam on WinXP
Has anyone figured out a way to make steam still run and work on Windows XP past the end of the year?
Originally posted by Null_User:
The problem with Steam is that it uses Internet to validate games, even if you place full copies of them in the correct folders. And while it does so, it may also try to update itself. And as stated before, even offline Steam will try to access the Internet to update itself, even through metered connections. Heck, I even had the experience of a fully offline computer eventually refusing to open Steam because it needed to go online.
< >
Showing 1-15 of 44 comments
Arya Jul 25, 2018 @ 1:19am 
Why are you wanting to do that? Having an XP machine connected to the internet is... more than a bad idea it's arguably dangerous.
Monk Jul 25, 2018 @ 1:46am 
Yeah,it's probably time to buy an OEM windows 10 key or just use the free version unregistered, there's no real reason to stick with an OS that old anymore.
Edit.
Wolfey, do you ever sleep?
Last edited by Monk; Jul 25, 2018 @ 1:46am
trmcdougle Jul 25, 2018 @ 1:51am 
Some of us have lots of old games on the PC (which itself is old) and cannot afford a new PC so do NOT have the option to "upgrade" from XP

Often the old games are from CD and some have copy protection that will not work on more recent OS versions.
Originally posted by trmcdougle:
Some of us have lots of old games on the PC (which itself is old) and cannot afford a new PC so do NOT have the option to "upgrade" from XP

Often the old games are from CD and some have copy protection that will not work on more recent OS versions.
then let it run as such.

for steam gaming, get newer pc since steam already closed the door to xp and vista...
Arya Jul 25, 2018 @ 1:53am 
XP is basically unsecure now; it's security hasn't been updated for a very long time, likewise for any security apps that run on it. It's not safe to use it online, for you or anybody else on your network.
trmcdougle Jul 25, 2018 @ 2:01am 
not totally true, AVG antivirus is still running on XP and gets updates

and chiefputsi you missed the bit "cannot afford a new PC"
Monk Jul 25, 2018 @ 2:01am 
Originally posted by trmcdougle:
Some of us have lots of old games on the PC (which itself is old) and cannot afford a new PC so do NOT have the option to "upgrade" from XP

Often the old games are from CD and some have copy protection that will not work on more recent OS versions.

Then dual boot if need be, or see if you can pick the games up super cheap on GOG who update old titles (not available on steam), given that you can get windows 10 for free there's no real reason not to get it.
I've had windows 10 running on some pretty old hardware with no real issues and as others have said, xp is asking for trouble these days, if you've failed to budget for small upgrades in the past 10 years, I fear gaming is the least of your issues.

Edit.
By that I mean if you are still on a 10 year old system entirely.
Last edited by Monk; Jul 25, 2018 @ 2:02am
Any and all "Security" discussions or "how insecure something is", should -NOT- be discussed in this thread as that is -NOT- the point of this thread, and is terribly off topic here.

The entire point of this thread is to discuss and figure out how to make steam still run on XP after the "Expiration date".

If you have nothing helpful to add to this thread on that topic then it's better you don't post at all, as anything else is off topic. Which, off topic discussion is technically a violation of steam forum rules.

Please remain on topic here people.
Last edited by 🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊; Jul 25, 2018 @ 2:10am
Arya Jul 25, 2018 @ 2:17am 
I'm only trying to give you the best advice, and to keep you safe.
Originally posted by Wolfey:
I'm only trying to give you the best advice, and to keep you safe.
I have multiple windows 7 machines, I'm perfectly fine. I also have multiple Windows XP retro machines for retro gaming. And multiple windows 98 machines. And a few DOS + Windows 3.11 machines. I'm fine.

Now, back to the topic at hand: Making this thing work on XP after they "Cut us off". Does anyone know how to prevent steam from auto-updating and still work?
Null_User Jul 25, 2018 @ 2:19am 
Well, I was also gonna say that OP did not ask for how secure or how up to date XP is. BUT, to answer OP's question, I really doubt you will find too many people interested in keeping up XP running with Steam here, and they are simply stating their reasons why people would be disinterested on it.

So while I believe we can't fully close the door on something, I believe the reaction of those who responded to this thread may be the collective feeling of this forum on it. So my honest advice to OP would be to look somewhere else. Where that somewhere else is? I don't know. But I'd also advice not looking too deep nor into hack territory for an answer. The associated risks are not worth it.

EDIT: Another advice would be to get non Steam games. Like the above advised GoG.
Last edited by Null_User; Jul 25, 2018 @ 2:26am
WarmedxMints Jul 25, 2018 @ 2:29am 
I suppose all you could really do is block steams internet access in your firewall. If it cannot update itself then it should carry on working. If the games you are playing are old enough, then they likely will not have any updates anyway. Offline mode may work, although the steam client may still update automatically in offline mode.

Other than that, switch over to GoG for the older games and update your OS.
Arya Jul 25, 2018 @ 2:31am 
Originally posted by WarmedxMints:
I suppose all you could really do is block steams internet access in your firewall. If it cannot update itself then it should carry on working. If the games you are playing are old enough, then they likely will not have any updates anyway. Offline mode may work, although the steam client may still update automatically in offline mode.

Other than that, switch over to GoG for the older games and update your OS.

Although that would obviously prevent you downloading games or updates. If the OS for whatever reason goes belly-up, you may not be able to rebuild your Steam install.
Originally posted by WarmedxMints:
I suppose all you could really do is block steams internet access in your firewall. If it cannot update itself then it should carry on working. If the games you are playing are old enough, then they likely will not have any updates anyway. Offline mode may work, although the steam client may still update automatically in offline mode.

Other than that, switch over to GoG for the older games and update your OS.

No thanks, as I said I already have 2 updated OS computers. My main gaming computer is windows7 with a 1080 Ti, and everything is fine.

This is for one of my multiple older XP computers.

That might work.. but I think steam needs internet access to activate for DLC to let us play games usually.
Arya Jul 25, 2018 @ 2:32am 
Originally posted by Impending Rentacle Tape:
That might work.. but I think steam needs internet access to activate for DLC to let us play games usually.

I'm afraid so. And there's the issue of (re)installing any new games or other stuff.
< >
Showing 1-15 of 44 comments
Per page: 1530 50

Date Posted: Jul 25, 2018 @ 1:12am
Posts: 44