Windows 8.1 still works on Steam 07/09/2024!

[MeAgain]

I believed Steam about 8.1 not working. I have an Alienware laptop that came with 8.1. I upgraded for free to Windows 10 whenever it came out. I used a 32" monitor to play my games on or a 55" TV if I went in bedroom. After about a dozen Windows 10 blue screen crashes it would no longer project to outside monitors.
I changed back to 8.1 problem solved.
December I bought myself a new gaming computer from Newegg. Very affordable and equal to my 10 year old Alienware, 16G ram, 1T HD etc. It was $500 with free shipping and a $50 gift card. It has Windows 11. Great deal and works fantastic. My Alienware was $2000 in 2013 when my wife surprised me with it. Before you say anything, we have known each other for over 40 years and been together for over 36 years. Plus she still wants sex everyday. Yes I am bragging.

Anyways I decided to check my Windows 8.1 Laptop to see if it would work on Steam. After about a half hour of updating and security scans and stuff, it works fine.

Not sure why Steam fibbed about it though. Windows 8.1 has been running for about 4 hours so far today with no issues.

If you have 8.1 give it a try.

My fault I believed what Steam told me. Never again. One and done is my rule. I no longer trust Steam. Plus, some of the games will not load or work for anyone. House of the DEAD comes to mind.

[Snapjak]

No, what Valve said is that it would no longer be supported.

That means it may continue to work but at some point an update will straight break the ability to use Steam on 7/8.1 just like what happened with XP, and '98 before it.

[Aluvard]

So which games won't work for anyone?

[Haruspex]

Originally posted by MeAgain:

Not sure why Steam fibbed about it though. Windows 8.1 has been running for about 4 hours so far today with no issues.

There was no "fib". Valve does not support, nor do they test to ensure ongoing compatibility with Windows 7 and 8. If it's working, it's merely by chance for now, but eventually some update will be pushed out that will permanently kill compatibility and that will be the end of it.

This won't be an intentional update to specifically kill Windows 8. Valve won't push the "kill Windows 8" button. It's just since the beginning of January of this year, Windows 7/8 isn't even a thought in Valve's collective mind when they develop and push out updates, and at some point one of these updates will cause Steam to stop working there. It might happen tomorrow. It might happen a year from now. Nobody really knows.

You are free to do what you want, but it's my personal recommendation not to continue to utilize Windows 7 or 8 due to the fact that those operating systems haven't received a proper security update since January of 2023. They represent a real security risk at this point, and refusal to move on constitutes blind stubbornness.

Also issues with House of the Dead remake are separate from Steam itself, and should be brought up with the developer of that game. (If they even care anymore.)

[Elucidator]

Originally posted by Snapjak:

No, what Valve said is that it would no longer be supported.

That means it may continue to work but at some point an update will straight break the ability to use Steam on 7/8.1 just like what happened with XP, and '98 before it.

Actually, it really depends on your language and on when you checked the message.
For a long time, Valve even in the english variant of the message declared that Steam would no longer work on older versions of windows.

It was only during December when the english page actually declared it would stop supporting it, and that it would remain functional for an unknown period of time.

Currently, in my own native language.it says:

Vanaf 1 januari 2024 zal Steam officieel geen ondersteuning meer bieden voor de besturingssystemen Windows 7, Windows 8 en Windows 8.1. Na die datum werkt de Steam-client niet meer op die versies van Windows.

which translates to:
From the 1st of januari, 2024, Steam will no longer offer support for the operating system platforms Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1
After this date, the Steam-client will no longer work on these versions of Windows.

In other words, the message is still like the old one, the one that actually declared the steam client will not start anymore, no longer run or actually work on Windows 7~8.1.

---
I myself use 8.1 and it works fine.
All games also still work just fine.

[MeAgain]

It says on Steam right now while I am running 8.1. "Steam will stop running on Windows 8,1 in 0 days"
I watched this countdown during 2023. Until new computer in December.
It loaded ALL updates when I logged onto Steam on 8.1. I still think they should have stopped at XP myself.
I started gaming online in the 1990's. First computer was a WANG with windows 3.1.
The internet provider was PRODIGY, and searches were just a page with squares saying what they were. Everything was text with no videos.
I moved to an IBM Aptiva 1 with a 6G hardrive which was considered massive at the time. RAM was 256.
I will post if they ever stop running 8.1.
I did notice that Windows 11 does not play the voices in the start up video of L4D2. I was blaming it on updates until I tried 8.1 and it works fine.

[libadwaita (she/her)]

I'm curious, if Windows 10 has issues and Windows 8.1 is usupported with security updates, why run Windows on the laptop at all? It seems like you lose with either option.

You might be better off running GNU/Linux on the laptop instead.

[smokerob79]

many games going forward will NO LONGER work but older games will stay running.....the real question is when will steaming pile of ♥♥♥♥ itself update to a point it no longer runs on 8 and that unto itself stops letting you play the games that always worked, on hardware that still works for the games wanting to be played.....let me guess we can buy a steaming pile of nintendo switch rip off to play those old games now.....

this is why you buy on GOG.....at least you own a copy that will work in 20 years regardless of the launchers being updated

[MeAgain]

I have a gaming desk top with Windows 11. I have had my Alienware laptop for over 10 years. It still runs great. I remember when you weren't forced to play on Steam. Before it was ever thought of. You bought a game and loaded on your PC and it was yours. The oldest computer I still have with old games is Windows 95. Duke Nukem original. DOOM original, Red Neck Rampage which was made by Duke Nukem creators.
I took Windows 10 off laptop and am using 8.1 because it works. I hate letting my computers go. I have two Dell with XP for gaming. A Vista Quad-core which was the best gaming computer at the time. I think I have seven complete and running computers with monitors, keyboards etc.
I started in the early nineties. Gotta have an outlet I guess.
I do agree though. Steam is sucking at what they do. It's like they want to drive people away or something.
The House of the Dead remake does not work on anyone's computer that I have heard of.
Novalogic games will not run correctly even though Steam sells them.
I miss having LAN parties with friends. I have been online gaming for over 25 years now.
Dumb old Steam being mean.

[MeAgain]

I forgot I also have a computer with Windows 98 on it. I got rid of the first one that had Windows 3.1 on it.

[MeAgain]

Sorry I missed the comment about Linux. I am only using 8.1 to spite Steam. Windows still updates defender and firewall. I also have Windows 11 separate gaming computer. I don't need to run 8.1. I might try GNU/Linux on laptop just for fun though. Thanks for the suggestion.

[MeAgain]

On my 8.1 computer Steam says "Windows 8.1 will STOP running in 0 days. That was at end of Dec 2023. STOP RUNNING is the fib Steam told.

[MeAgain]

8.1 still has security updates, but not automatic.

[Elucidator]

Originally posted by MeAgain:

8.1 still has security updates, but not automatic.

I am not sure what you're talking about
https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=8.1
This clearly shows the last security update was in 2023.

[MeAgain]

Defender and Firewall