Steam and Windows 7, 8 & 8.1

I have not been on my Win 7 computer for some time now. I started it up today and there was this notice in red at the very top next to my login name:

Steam will stop running Windows 7 in 38 days

I only used my Win 7 computer to download games and play them from trusted sites. This upsets me that I will no longer be able to do that. I understand completely why Steam is pulling the plug. They don't mention if you will still be able to play installed games on the computer. Is that over as well I wonder. I would think so seeing how Steam has to open up for games to start. OH WELL........users got to the end of the year

I think this subject was brought up before here but I could not find it

Just a reminder to all Win 7 ,8 and 8.1 users

I haven't used Steam myself for years - but if you will no longer be able to play games you have bought and which have already been installed that will be VERY bad

Steam and many other websites have stopped support Windows 7 because the platform is so insecure. Of course, you can redownload your Steam games to a Windows 10 computer to play them. I have recommended that anyone still using Windows 7 not access the internet for any reason - even to download games or video card updates. It is a prime target for hackers and worse. I hang out at several tech websites and they recommend the same - don't use Windows 7 on the internet for anything.

But if the games won't play on a Windows 10 computer that's the purchase price just down the drain

But virtually all Steam games have been tweaked to play on Windows 10. The same with GOG - even ancient 16-bit games like Shivers 1 can be played on Windows 10.

Mad, it's not really any different than all the disc games we bought in the past that no longer play in newer systems. It is not Steam; it is Microsoft. At least, I think that's who is the real culprit.

I still use Windows 7 and had installed a bunch of games when support for Win 7 was coming to an end. I have been trying to play a lot of those Steam games this past 6 months since I first saw that notice. None of my current Domini (casual) games will play on my Win 10 so I've been trying to play those mostly. I had to replay Syberia 2 on the Win 7 because no version of it would work on my Win 10. It was already installed on my Win 7. I haven't been downloading on the Win 7 for a very long time. I had, however, gone online for short periods of time here and there so I'm sure that helped my Steam games to keep able to run in offline mode.

I had found this page the other day while looking to see if I could find anything about Big Fish and Win 7, which I didn't. I hope all of those games will continue to play. I'm assuming they will be okay.

https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/5824898961047371888/

I plan to uninstall all my Steam games and the Steam client prior to the end of the year. Should free up a lot of space on that computer and hopefully speed it back up a little again.

It's more of a case of technology moving on. We can't expect everything that worked on our computers 20 years ago to work on new operating systems. Steam - and many other websites - no longer support Windows 7 because of security issues. Thank heavens for places like GOG where you can get games like Syberia 2 to play on Windows 10. It's on sale today for less than $3!

Microsoft can't stay bogged down in the 1990's and continue to meet the expectations of millions of people who use it for things other than gaming. I get REALLY annoyed with them, but I have to say they provide us with support for their operating systems far longer than anyone else. We get support for 10 years while Mac only supports their operating systems for 3 years.

I wouldn’t install Galaxy for years. I just downloaded the game files and burned them to disk myself - so my Win7 games (and earlier) from GOG are safe.
When I eventually got Win10 that wasn’t possible so I had to cave in and start to use Galaxy.

Later, I closed my Win7 account with Big Fish and opened one for Win10 and all my purchased BF games were immediately available. And so far every one of them - old or new - has played without a problem in Win10.

Microsoft is NOT my favourite company and I have no time at all for Steam !!

Drac, I have Syberia 2 on disc, from Steam, AND from GOG. There is an issue with the sound that is tweakable for some, even on the GOG version. I was not capable of fixing that issue so I cannot play it on Win 10. Not every GOG game plays on current systems without tweaking.

I know most people like that technology moves on. I am not particularly one of them I would like to see all the old stuff still work as well. When people get old, do we throw them out? I think it's just all about the $$$.

Well, I would be happy to go back to Windows 98, but I am probably just weird and showing my age.

I honestly don't see any great benefits that I have gained since that operating system. Fancier graphics just aren't much of a draw for me.

I was able to play Syberia 2 from GOG on my Windows 10 with no problems, but I read that some are having issues.

I am one of those who uses old stuff until it can no longer be used and that includes my technology. But there comes a point when the world has moved past that old technology - the hackers become more and more proficient and business and infrastructure can no longer run on the old tech. Hospitals and governments running old technology are unable to keep up with increasing dangers and demands of the systems. I guarantee money is part of it, but we also cannot sit around and pretend we can still function the same as we did 20 or 30 years ago.

Having said that, I am going to work on getting my old XP back up and running! I had to rebuild it in a new case because the cheap on/off switch would no longer work. Then my RAM went wonky and it wouldn't boot up any more. I got new RAM and it's been sitting there for a year waiting for me to work up the energy to install it.

I loved Windows 98 too! I still have a couple of old installation disks. I resisted going to XP as long as I could. But I have been able to do so much more than those old days and could never go back. And I actually love the fabulous graphics in new systems as my eyesight has gotten worse over the years. The old graphics were so grainy and pixelated. And I get to play games that I never could have on 98 - even the casual games I love. But to have missed the Witcher and Vampire games? No, I love my new operating systems!

Which is why I said " I would like to see all the old stuff still work as well". As well being key words.

Every person has their own preferences and the updating of things that are working perfectly “as is” is not one of mine.

I would be absolutely willing to PAY for the continued tech support of older systems, myself

I currently have an XP, a Win7 and a Win10 running - all of which I use - and until Win10 came along I also had a Win98.
But I couldn’t fit 4 computers on my table so the Win98 is now languishing in a rear bedroom, even though it’s still in perfect working order

And therein lies my latest gripe with MS! My Windows 10 is working perfectly as-is and I don't see enough differences in Windows 11 to make me excited to upgrade. I have a cheap Windows 11 laptop and it just doesn't wow me in any way.

Unfortunately, not enough people would be willing or able to pay for tech support of outdated systems to make it feasible. And it's certainly not in MS best interests to continue providing security updates to systems which are 20 years old for relatively few people. There comes a point where the platform just cannot be patched any more to remain secure from modern security threats. As it is, they are constantly scrambling to stay abreast of security threats. If you spend any time at the tech forums, you would find it's a very scary place out there and I, for one, am grateful they are trying to keep us safe.

I'd have to go boot up that Windows 98 now and then just for the nostalgia!

My mantra has always been the best anti-malware is the person behind the keyboard!

Oh, I absolutely agree with that - and always have !!

You should be able to play the games you already downloaded to your computer, but avoid the desktop Icon that they put on your desktop, it is an Url which requires connection to the Web and or Steam.
What I do is go to Program Files (x86) and then to the Steam Folder, then to the Steamapps Folder, then to the *Common Folder, there you will the find the .exe file for the game you want to play, make a shortcut of it on your desktop and voila, play the game with no hassles.

*I made a shortcut of the Common Folder on my desktop, saves a lot time when you are looking for of your Steam games that you downloaded.

That is how I plan to play all my already downloaded Big Fish games but I'm just going to let Steam go on the Win 7. I don't need the hassle.

That’s useful to know for Steam users, Starcom 👍

That's an excellent suggestion, Starcom. The icon on your desktop is a link to "steam://rungamesid/####"

Excellent idea if this work. Like said you will need to download the games from Steam before Dec 31st to run that "exe" if you don't plan on updating the computer. That could be a lot of games. You will not be able to purchase anymore games from Steam under those OS' mentioned

We did not have to face this issue in the past. We played games from disks, boxed games. Many of us have hung on to our computers to play some of those older games and still continue to do so. Who knew this state of the art game downloading would cause such a ruckus

My Win98 machine uses Win98SE and my XP has the last improvement offered (and I think it’s known as WinXP3).
Both very stable versions.
Likewise my Win7, which is the Enterprise” version. An absolutely wonderful machine 👍
But I started with 286(?) which was just DOS 🤡

We had a 286 too, Mad. After that, we went to a 486. Our first computer was an Apple 2+ with 48K of memory. Big-time stuff!

Oh, the hours spent playing Solitaire on 98SE!

I still have many of the Adventure games I bought for Win98SE but fortunately a lot of them will play on my XP machine so that is SOME compensation