Around 2015-2016 Windows XP was practically dead in mainstream, despite having ESU support for embedded version until 2019. Not much you can do with 32-bit OS really. And yet Steam also supported it until 2019.
Windows 7 64-bit so far fairs a bit better, outliving all official ESU support dates. Heck, even Steam still works on 2024 beta versions so far. Although 2026 will be the last nail in the coffin, because Microsoft will finally stop all support of Windows Server 2008 R2, from which Windows 7 users are currently piggybacking security updates.

I reckon Valve will also revision something on their side in early 2026, so it will completely break access to Steam. 2024 build already have issues with downloading new game archives.

16+ years. It had a good run.

The Serpent Rider wrote on Today, 05:40:

Although 2026 will be the last nail in the coffin, because Microsoft will finally stop all support of Windows Server 2008 R2, from which Windows 7 users are currently piggybacking security updates.

Which SKU of Server 2008 R2 is supported till 2026?

kolderman wrote on 2025-11-15, 11:47:

What was it like being stuck on dx9 post 2010?

0 issues. never cared that much. win xp just worked so good for what i needed.

windows vista and 7 have a weird look to them. never bothered. the ui was just too much. and since xp worked a treat , why change?

the only change ive done , was around 2008 2009 , when i moved from xp 32 bit to xp 64 bit. and from that time till 2015 2016 , never reinstalled windows.

just like with windows 10. from 2015/16 till 2024 , not reinstalled windows. Even when upgraded , it just worked with the new hardware , only had to install new drivers.

long are the days when you need to reinstall windows every half year or so... that was only an issue with win9x. ever since xp , 0 issues.

dr_st wrote on Today, 06:30:

Which SKU of Server 2008 R2 is supported till 2026?

Server 2008 R2 Premium Assurance. Ends in January.

Interesting. How do you get the patches from there? Are they available on the MS catalog? I assume it has to be like getting Server 2008 SP2 patches for Vista x64.

I recall I saw cumulative security updates in MS catalog. Obviously they can't be installed on Windows 7 as is, but there's a popular third-party patcher, there's a heated debate about it on Steam forums.

The Serpent Rider wrote on Today, 12:49:

I recall I saw cumulative security updates in MS catalog. Obviously they can't be installed on Windows 7 as is, but there's a popular third-party patcher, there's a heated debate about it on Steam forums.

Hah. For Vista you could just install them. All the way up to January 2023 I heard it said 😜

Windows 7 x86 and x64 are still used on most of the computers at my work, including my work computer. I'm trying to upgrade these computers to at least 8.1 x64, but it's not easy, as they're used every day. I install Windows 10 x64 on some, but only if the hardware is powerful enough. By that, I mean at least 4 cores and 8 GB of memory.