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General discussionSteam drops Windows 7 support in January 2024(169 posts)(169 posts)
(169 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted March 29, 2023
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KingofGnG: Windows 7 is ancient. Get over it.
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CRILLER3: Win 7 might be as you say "ancient" but for some people it still works and why replace something when it works perfectly fine?.
The irony here is, for me personally, that I mostly use Windows 10 to play games with, I only use an old laptop to download them with.
It's not a big issue to use some other computer to download, but it is kind of stupid that the download will be the problem, not the actual compatibility.

Anyway, when it comes to ancient OS, I think what this thread has so far completely missed is that Steam client will no longer work with Windows 8 either.
So if you have a system that is three years newer than some Windows 7 computer, it doesn't help at all.

For the record, I use Windows Vista on my Desktop, and it does the job that needs to be done there, so if something isn't broken, there's absolutely no need to fix it.


I wonder if there is some way to run Steam Linux client in some emulator in Windows 7/8?
That might help those who have no access to computers with Windows 10 or 11.
Posted March 29, 2023
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PixelBoy: For the record, I use Windows Vista on my Desktop, and it does the job that needs to be done there, so if something isn't broken, there's absolutely no need to fix it.
Off topic, but... WHY?!!!!!

Digging back in my hazy memory from 2009, Windows 7 was a free upgrade from Vista (I remember getting OEM Vista and upgrading it). Given that Windows 7 was at Windows 2000 (not ME!) levels of greatness (which was recognised at the time) and all Windows Vista had to offer was ditching the terrible fischer-price skin of Windows XP, why didn't you go to 7 at the time?

[Edit: it feels like the equivalent of still running Windows 3 when someone comes along and offers you a free upgrade to Windows 3.11 for Workgroups]
Post edited March 29, 2023 by pds41
Posted March 29, 2023
high rated
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qoopyqoopy: Good riddance. What are people still doing still on Windows 7?
Enjoying easy mode. Running Windows 7 era software on Windows 7 era hardware.
Posted March 29, 2023
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paladin181: You make a lot of claims, but Windows 10 actually fixed a lot of backwards compatible problems.
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BrianSim: I actually didn't make any claims about W10 "being less compatible than W7 with games" though. I was referring far more to the effect of the DRM (Smart App Control + Remote Attestation (TPM) added to W11 in a post-W10 world than making any claims about W10 game compatibility. Likewise that W7 ESU support ended in Jan 2023 whilst W10 ends in 2025 makes "staying on W10" irrelevant as that'll be in the same position W7 is today in 2 years time.
Don't mistake me, I'm not trying to say anything except that Win10 isn't the ugly beast many make it out to be (and I misunderstood you to be too). I, too am not moving past Win10, and will be awitching to Linux when I can no longer use 10. My Steam deck has filled me with confidence that I can do so with minimal impact.
Posted March 29, 2023
I can't wait for ReactOS to get a stable and fully functional release. That's one thing this thread has convinced me of.
Posted March 29, 2023
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paladin181: I can't wait for ReactOS to get a stable and fully functional release. That's one thing this thread has convinced me of.
aye. it has 25 year anniversary this year.
Posted March 29, 2023
When support ends for Win10 i will personally switch to Linux or ReactOS.
Posted March 30, 2023
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rjbuffchix: This may sound like a stupid question, but re: GOG offline installers Windows versions, is it possible to use them in Linux and thus play the "Windows version installation" of a game but in Linux? (as opposed to downloading and running the Linux version offline installers).
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Time4Tea: I play most of my games by running the Windows version in Linux (using Wine). Most work fine out of the box, but a few require a bit of tinkering here and there.
Thank you very much. That makes sense...I just wondered if maybe I had overlooked something or it would be too good to be true.
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rjbuffchix: This may sound like a stupid question, but re: GOG offline installers Windows versions, is it possible to use them in Linux and thus play the "Windows version installation" of a game but in Linux? (as opposed to downloading and running the Linux version offline installers).
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SitcomAntibody: Yes.

Every one of my GOG games is installed/downloaded like this. I also use "lgogdownloader" for convenience to automatically grab all the offline installers.

Depending on your comfort level:
a) You could use Lutris, which will also download those installers for you and setup the game. Although, it might be a bit buggy. Cloud Saves are not supported, but you'll see all your games within Lutris and can select which ones to install.

b) You could use Heroic Games Launcher, which again you can login to your GOG account so that it downloads and installs the games for you. Although, this one supports Cloud Saves.

c) You could just download the offline installer, and install them manually using Bottles, but this requires a fair bit more tinkering to get it right. (But it is my preferred option)

The advantage in any case is all the current work being done for Steam Deck to make games work, also applies to any standard Linux install, so whether you're a steam user or not, you'll benefit with all the work.

Basically, if you see "Verified On Deck" on steam, that means it'll work great on a standard Linux computer as well, as none of the work is specific to Valve / Steam and doesn't require using them.
Thank you as well for this awesome response. I appreciate the detail and different options you point out! I hadn't even considered the Steam deck-Linux connection (that is how little attention I give Steam) but that makes perfect sense to monitor the "Verified on Deck" to know for sure it will work great with no extra work.
Post edited March 30, 2023 by rjbuffchix
Posted March 30, 2023
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rjbuffchix: Thank you very much. That makes sense...I just wondered if maybe I had overlooked something or it would be too good to be true.
Thank you as well for this awesome response. I appreciate the detail and different options you point out! I hadn't even considered the Steam deck-Linux connection (that is how little attention I give Steam) but that makes perfect sense to monitor the "Verified on Deck" to know for sure it will work great with no extra work.
Also, Protondb is your friend. it will tell you games people have gotten working on Linux with Proton, and usually how they did it. Very helpful.
Posted March 30, 2023
no love for win8
Posted March 30, 2023
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rjbuffchix: Thank you very much. That makes sense...I just wondered if maybe I had overlooked something or it would be too good to be true.
Thank you as well for this awesome response. I appreciate the detail and different options you point out! I hadn't even considered the Steam deck-Linux connection (that is how little attention I give Steam) but that makes perfect sense to monitor the "Verified on Deck" to know for sure it will work great with no extra work.
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paladin181: Also, Protondb is your friend. it will tell you games people have gotten working on Linux with Proton, and usually how they did it. Very helpful.
Indeed. Though, I'd like to point out not to just go adding any and all environment variables from those user reports. You'll find often the commands are not strictly required and/or don't actually make a difference.

More often than not, it's just people copying it from another report, and adding it to their game without thought.

Basically, unless the game actually doesn't work or runs very poorly, don't add them immediately.

(DXVK_ASYNC is a common one you'll find for example, this one may or may not make a real difference, and in some cases may cause a loss rather than a gain in game performance.)
Posted March 30, 2023
If you buy into the DRM'd client thing with no offline backups then I don't think you can really complain when that service phases out an old version of Windows Microsoft doesn't support anymore. That just seems like a common sense thing that would happen and should have been factored in when you paid up originally.

GOG randomly stopping offline installers from functioning on Windows 7 somehow would be a much different and more egregious thing.
Posted March 30, 2023
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SitcomAntibody: (DXVK_ASYNC is a common one you'll find for example, this one may or may not make a real difference, and in some cases may cause a loss rather than a gain in game performance.)
For the record, ASYNC support was never implemented in official Proton releases and is removed from Proton GE since version 45.
Posted March 30, 2023
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SitcomAntibody: (DXVK_ASYNC is a common one you'll find for example, this one may or may not make a real difference, and in some cases may cause a loss rather than a gain in game performance.)
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ssling: For the record, ASYNC support was never implemented in official Proton releases and is removed from Proton GE since version 45.
Indeed, and yet a ton of ProtonDB reports, even new ones still put this variable as "helping to make the game run better". It was my whole point, where people are using variables without actually understanding them.

Another fun one is seeing reports for a game that's running over Vulkan. OpenGL related environment variables.. again does nothing.

To clarify, my recommended path for a new game:

Check ProtonDB before purchase for known issues. Maybe a duck linux search for the game also.

Try with regular proton first, no variables, does it work and play acceptably? Yes? Happy days! Enjoy.

No? Try GE-Proton, no variables, does it work and play acceptably? Yes? Happy days! Enjoy.

Still no? Try the variables. Now working? Yes? Happy days! Enjoy.

Still no? Go check those reports again, and maybe ask for some help online since someone has probably already tried it :-).
Post edited March 30, 2023 by SitcomAntibody
Posted March 30, 2023
I still use Windows 7, it has the best compatibility with the older games, even some games from Windows 95 (maybe less than "some") can be run without necessity of black magic rituals or search for a subsitute wrapper.

But it seems there is no choice for me but to upgrade to the "last Windows" 10, definitely not the "break my game with another update" W11.

I'll probably wait till December 2023 or maybe even drop Steam for a while. And some W10 only games I can play from cloud, yeah it could take a while.

Windows 7 is my favorite OS since Windows XP and Windows 3.11 for Workgroups. Someone mentioned Windows ME - I think it was the worst of them all - in my casy it always become unstable after the 3rd restart. (sorry for ME offtopic).

I wonder how long would it take for W10 support deadline. And I heard that W11 got some ads update - it's a no-go for me.
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionSteam drops Windows 7 support in January 2024(169 posts)(169 posts)
(169 posts)