Windows 7 support ends?? wtf??

[Dutchgamer1982]

My gaming pc still runs windows 7.. this was a willfull chooise.. as windows 10 does not support many of the games I like to run.

I just read steam will stop supporting windows 7 Big red banner..
what exactly does that mean?

-can I still install/play my games just not recieve any updates??
-can I still reinstal the last working version of steam for windows 7 after this date?
-can I still install/reinstal my games under windows 7 after this date?
-can I still play my library under windows 7 after this date?

**installing every game in my library and play in offline mode only.. is ofcourse possible..
would likely need to buy a much larger m.2 for that though+an external drive for a backup.
-Or does even the offline launcher no longer work after this date?

Is this a FORCED update to windows 10?? rendering twothirds of my games unplayable?
**upgrading to windows 11 is out of the question, hardware not new enough
**installing my entire library will be very costly.

WTF steam WTF..

please give me more info..

-can I somehow like I still use windows 7.. keep using my games on steam under windows 7 after the deadline on this scary red banner hits?

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Saurel MaTT님이 먼저 게시:

Ok, what insecurities and unsafe protocols are there for my so outdated system then? And why would YOU care if you use OS that is safer?

The main thing is the internet. Without updates to the web browser you could get any sort of malware or virus through the internet just browsing websites. And then if the OS behind the browser doesn't have some sort of virus protection (that is current and updated) to constantly scan memory and watch for viruses then you could become infected and never even know it happened.

Which that scenario is going to happen: Firefox is going to stop issuing updates in September 2024 for Windows 7, which means it becomes insecure / unsafe after that point. All other browsers have already stopped sending updates for Windows 7 users (firefox is the last one), and Microsoft already stopped issuing security updates for Windows 7 users. Your only last line of defense is a 3rd party Anti-Virus suite. So far we know AVG will support users through "some time in 2024" (unknown when they end support there) and Comodo supposedly doesn't have an end date for support yet, but could stop at any time.

If you don't have an active and updated 3rd party anti-virus to catch viruses in Windows 7 past September 2024 then you should just disable internet access and not allow your Windows 7 computer to access the internet as there is no way to be safe online after that point.

[MonkehMaster]

Saurel MaTT님이 먼저 게시:

Unlike consoles we should not use old computers with old versions of Windows on the internet after some time as it becomes unsafe to do so after a while. That's a big reason why Steam and other software discontinues support for older operating systems.

Ok, what insecurities and unsafe protocols are there for my so outdated system then? And why would YOU care if you use OS that is safer?

nothing really, at best they are trying to demand you do things, while using security as a crutch, doesnt matter how much security something or someone has, you can get viruses/malware from loads of stuff, including self inflicted viruses/malware due to improper browsing and downloading habits.

best security is the person behind the keyboard, if they know what they are doing they will be fine, if they dont, then they will have some issues to learn from.

[JamesJB]

Cathulhu님이 먼저 게시:

Or you could switch to Linux and keep playing your games.

I seriously thought about doing away with windows all together and moving to Ubuntu but everything I use Games,Drivers,etc won't work on Linux for me unless you mean Wine maybe?

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

[e-mail]님이 먼저 게시:

Maybe in time there will be a working extended kernel for Win7. It wouldn't be the first time (KernelEX/One-Core-API/Extended Kernel for Windows Vista/VxKex). Even Firefox 52 (2017) can be used in Win98

Using a 3rd party kernel made by someone not microsoft is a *VERY BAD* idea and no one should ever do that for any reason. That's horribly insecure and just bad. No one knows what they would "Bake into" it.

Also: Just because something "Works" does not mean that it's a good idea to use it. No one should ever allow any Windows XP computer to have access to the internet in 2023 for any reason. That's a big "no no".

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

[e-mail]님이 먼저 게시:

So at least you can see what Valve makes me do. The way you keep talking about "security", that's not entirely true. For example, if I installed Win10/11, I would disable, among other things, updates/Defender/UAC/Security Center/... and have an account with admin rights (just like I have in Win7). No kidding. Would it still be the safe Win10/11? No one can forbid me to use a system set up like this...

At least you would be able to use a modern version of all web browsers with all current security updates to access the web. Along with all other internet-connected apps being up-to-date too.

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

[e-mail]님이 먼저 게시:

I couldn't use any of that, since I turn off automatic system/application updates as a matter of principle. I could update my Firefox 99 and Steam client from 2022 (without Steam will stop running on Win7 warning), but it won't bring me anything - except more RAM consumption and data traffic

Steam updates it's self within it's own program, not windows updates. The same goes for all web browsers too.

[MonkehMaster]

🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊님이 먼저 게시:

[e-mail]님이 먼저 게시:

Maybe in time there will be a working extended kernel for Win7. It wouldn't be the first time (KernelEX/One-Core-API/Extended Kernel for Windows Vista/VxKex). Even Firefox 52 (2017) can be used in Win98

Using a 3rd party kernel made by someone not microsoft is a *VERY BAD* idea and no one should ever do that for any reason. That's horribly insecure and just bad. No one knows what they would "Bake into" it.

Also: Just because something "Works" does not mean that it's a good idea to use it. No one should ever allow any Windows XP computer to have access to the internet in 2023 for any reason. That's a big "no no".

nah, they can use whatever they want, be it win xp on the internet or any others on the internet.

[Nikonos]

'Security-issues' is the red herring of the day.

[amaranthe_]

Truly what Steam should provide is a BASIC Steam app for Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 that does away with all the Internet connectivity and at least allows users to play their own Steam purchased games on their computers. Sure they need to be able to validate your login and ensure you are not stealing games. However, I do not need all the Steam nonsense of shared end-user content snips, clips, etc.

There should be a push to push for BASIC play functionality after the 2024-01-01 deadline. We all paid for games to work on our computers and claiming Security when all you need to do is not use the Internet beyond validating login credentials and licensing is NOT a valid argument.

Of course, then you'll be saying how would they support multi-player and such? Well, I would hope that portion of how Steam functions does not rely on Google Chromium Browser source code.

[MonkehMaster]

amaranthe_님이 먼저 게시:

Truly what Steam should provide is a BASIC Steam app for Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 that does away with all the Internet connectivity and at least allows users to play their own Steam purchased games on their computers. Sure they need to be able to validate your login and ensure you are not stealing games. However, I do not need all the Steam nonsense of shared end-user content snips, clips, etc.

There should be a push to push for BASIC play functionality after the 2024-01-01 deadline. We all paid for games to work on our computers and claiming Security when all you need to do is not use the Internet beyond validating login credentials and licensing is NOT a valid argument.

Of course, then you'll be saying how would they support multi-player and such? Well, I would hope that portion of how Steam functions does not rely on Google Chromium Browser source code.

havent tried it, but seen mention of a command for steam, that disables all connections to the client, ie.. updating, check-ins, ect... basically offline mode without the check-in from steam, though it wont stop any third party drm that might be in some of your games.

it was in that win 7/8 survival guide (down in the comments) and the guide is in the UI reverting thread.

thread:

https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/6516193260168294059/
------------------

guide:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2967855237
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quote from comment in guide:

lightwo  [author] Sep 13 @ 1:04pm 
I assume it could be the case if the client is forced offline without blocking Internet connection from it, and the login for that client has been ended. That can be prevented by either using a firewall to block all client connections, or launch the client with:

-net_fake_state NoSteam

That is a switch that disables all connections to Steam for testing purposes, but can be used to keep it completely offline for this purpose as well.

------------------

i would say, disabling steam connections just before the update that wont support win 7, will be an easy choice, though others for w/e reason may want older versions possibly before the UI change, ect.. and then disabling, but thats their choice of w/e they are doing.

edit: may want to reboot pc with internet disconnected, then add the launch command to steam exe and launch it (still without internet connected to the pc)? again i have not tried it, so i have zero clue how it works, best to read up on everything that has been posted, in the guide, guide comments and the revert ui thread.

also, for the most up to date command line options for the steam client, use -dev launch command on steam client exe (or dll?), run steam, run the console and use find to search for commands (look for a vid to show you how to use steam console).

[🦊Λℚ𝓤ΛƑΛᗯҜᔕ🦊]

Vitalic님이 먼저 게시:

it uses less ram for ex. less invasive updates and no stupid NEWS in the start bar...

win 10 looks like a smartphone menu. it's heinous and ugly looking

Most people that I know never leave the default windows 10 start menu. They usually use Classic Start Menu (Free). I agree: The default windows 10 start menu is stupid. Fortunately it's not a requirement to keep it.

[Zeikar]

Vitalic님이 먼저 게시:

even though windows 7 isnt supported anymore or updated... it's still superior to newer ones.

it uses less ram for ex. less invasive updates and no stupid NEWS in the start bar...

win 10 looks like a smartphone menu. it's heinous and ugly looking

You can always use DUALBOOT with win7 / win10 though... and i need to do that

You can remove news and weather from Start/Tray/Taskbar whatever with 1st party settings and change the appearance with 3rd party apps.
Tools exist just like the above poster mentioned.

[MonkehMaster]

Zeikar님이 먼저 게시:

Vitalic님이 먼저 게시:

even though windows 7 isnt supported anymore or updated... it's still superior to newer ones.

it uses less ram for ex. less invasive updates and no stupid NEWS in the start bar...

win 10 looks like a smartphone menu. it's heinous and ugly looking

You can always use DUALBOOT with win7 / win10 though... and i need to do that

You can remove news and weather from Start/Tray/Taskbar whatever with 1st party settings and change the appearance with 3rd party apps.
Tools exist just like the above poster mentioned.

tbf, we shouldnt have to sift through the internet and download random programs, to do all of that nonsense.

[Crashed]

MonkehMaster님이 먼저 게시:

Zeikar님이 먼저 게시:

You can remove news and weather from Start/Tray/Taskbar whatever with 1st party settings and change the appearance with 3rd party apps.
Tools exist just like the above poster mentioned.

tbf, we shouldnt have to sift through the internet and download random programs, to do all of that nonsense.

You can customize your Start from a program right on Steam.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1811010/Start11/

[MonkehMaster]

Crashed님이 먼저 게시:

MonkehMaster님이 먼저 게시:

tbf, we shouldnt have to sift through the internet and download random programs, to do all of that nonsense.

You can customize your Start from a program right on Steam.
(link removed)

no thanks, not buying stuff that similar can be found free either lol.

anywho, my start menu, ect.. is fine, heck i barely use the start menu except for shutting the pc down, or using a windows related program like control panel, ect.. which isnt all that much after i have everything set how i like, also most of those are pinned with everything else removed, thus saving time even looking at the start menu.

the whole point was we shouldnt have to do any of that, microsoft should be giving choices so everyone can customize to their liking.

that being said, my next venture is win 11 newest nonsense with some chatgpt nonsense (co-pilot, or w/e its called) that supposedly takes place of cortana, i will have to be sure to remove all traces of that nonsense.