Windows 7 runs natively on the Steam Deck, but only in portrait mode — desktop OS enthusiast aims to push beyond strange limitation in otherwise straightforward process

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Given the source, we expect to see Vista wrangled onto Valve’s handheld next.

Windows 7
(Image credit: Adriano Castelli/Shutterstock)

Windows 7 can run natively on the Steam Deck, according to operating systems enthusiast Bob Pony on Twitter/X. Why this is something that needed to be done is another question. The answer, which many readers may sympathize with, is likely just because it can be done. We note that Pony has a particular penchant for Windows Vista, so perhaps we should prepare for that Steam Deck + unlikely OS announcement next.

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Mark Tyson
Mark Tyson
News Editor

Mark Tyson is a news editor at Tom's Hardware. He enjoys covering the full breadth of PC tech; from business and semiconductor design to products approaching the edge of reason.

16 Comments Comment from the forums
  • ezst036
    This is fairly interesting. I'd like to see someone put Windows 98 on the Deck. :nan:

    That said, the effect of the Steam Deck continues to be felt now that Linux is beginning to break the 5% userbase glass ceiling.

    Linux use just keeps growing and growing and growing.
    Reply
  • John Nemesh
    ezst036 said:
    This is fairly interesting. I'd like to see someone put Windows 98 on the Deck. :nan:

    That said, the effect of the Steam Deck continues to be felt now that Linux is beginning to break the 5% userbase glass ceiling.

    Linux use just keeps growing and growing and growing.
    Mainly because Windows 11 keeps getting worse, and worse, and worse!
    Reply
  • JeffreyP55
    ezst036 said:
    This is fairly interesting. I'd like to see someone put Windows 98 on the Deck. :nan:

    That said, the effect of the Steam Deck continues to be felt now that Linux is beginning to break the 5% userbase glass ceiling.

    Linux use just keeps growing and growing and growing.
    From 1991 to 2025, we hit 5%. Oh yea!
    Reply
  • ezst036
    JeffreyP55 said:
    From 1991 to 2025, we hit 5%. Oh yea!
    From 1991 to 2015, we hit 1%.
    From 2015 to 2021, we hit 2%.
    From 2021 to 2023, we hit 3%.
    From 2023 to 2024, we hit 4%.
    From 2024 to 2025, we hit 5%. That's 2 percent in these 2 years.

    The trend is my friend. Oh yea!
    Reply
  • USAFRet
    ezst036 said:
    I'd like to see someone put Windows 98 on the Deck.
    Having gone through the Win95/98 years....Why?
    Reply
  • palladin9479
    Ehh none of the OS's mentioned here are 'retro'. Any program made for Win7, aka NT 6.1, are fully compatible with both Win 10 and Win 11. Win XP is about the latest you can get while being 'retro' due to changes between NT 5 and NT 6, especially regarding older 16 bit libraries.

    Honestly there aren't many WinXP programs that won't work on Win 10 or 11.
    Reply
  • palladin9479
    USAFRet said:
    Having gone through the Win95/98 years....Why?
    Gotta do OS2 :D
    Reply
  • JeffreyP55
    ezst036 said:
    From 1991 to 2015, we hit 1%.
    From 2015 to 2021, we hit 2%.
    From 2021 to 2023, we hit 3%.
    From 2023 to 2024, we hit 4%.
    From 2024 to 2025, we hit 5%. That's 2 percent in these 2 years.

    The trend is my friend. Oh yea!
    If the wind keeps blowing in the right direction, you may surpass Apple's 10% market share in a few years. Most people just want to press the go button, not finagle with the OS.
    Reply
  • JeffreyP55
    JeffreyP55 said:
    If the wind keeps blowing in the right direction, you may surpass Apple's 10% market share in a few years. Most people just want to press the go button, not finagle with the OS. Been saying for years, Linux still isn't ready for primetime.
    Reply
  • TerryLaze
    palladin9479 said:
    Ehh none of the OS's mentioned here are 'retro'. Any program made for Win7, aka NT 6.1, are fully compatible with both Win 10 and Win 11. Win XP is about the latest you can get while being 'retro' due to changes between NT 5 and NT 6, especially regarding older 16 bit libraries.

    Honestly there aren't many WinXP programs that won't work on Win 10 or 11.
    And even more importantly, proton and all this stuff allows you to run apps and games from any windows version right on your modern linux os.

    There is no reason to install xp or win98 on the steamdeck you just use lutris and it downloads all the needed old dlls and files that the software needs.

    These things are just being done for "fun" ,to see if you can.
    Reply