Steam to No Longer Support Windows XP SP1

News
By Catherine Cai
published

If you're still running SP1... it might be time for an upgrade.

Starting August 31st, Steam will no longer be supporting Windows XP SP1. According to Valve, this change will affect less than one percent of Steam users.

Quite frankly, I’m surprised that those running XP SP1 are even able to get Steam to boot. And if you’re part of the one percent, it’s high time for an upgrade to at least SP2. It’s okay to turn on Windows Update from time to time… it won’t bite.

Catherine Cai
40 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Dragh0n
    I thought I was late to the party 'cause I just got Windows 7.. XP SP1? :)
    At least I had SP3, hehe.
    Reply
  • unksol
    i find this shocking. does Microsoft even still support SP1? why would any company waste time supporting anything but SP3? nevermind the people who refuse to update are going to be a much larger burden on the support system
    Reply
  • serginho
    XP had a good run but now windows 7 is the best windows to date, TIME TO CHANGE!!!
    Reply
  • shqtth
    Windows XP SP1 pirates running steam? kind of funny
    Reply
  • alextheblue
    serginhoXP had a good run but now windows 7 is the best windows to date, TIME TO CHANGE!!!But that's the funny part, Steam isn't discontinuing support for XP. Just for SP1. That's two system packs old! Just update it, already.
    Reply
  • g0rd0
    I don't understand. Steam requires internet access, if you've installed XP in I don't know the last 4 years, it will automatically update to SP3, so who are these people? And just how thoroughly have they been hacked?
    Reply
  • DroKing
    I've had SP3 since forever and Im still sticking to it till the day Windows 7 is dirt cheap.
    Reply
  • velocityg4
    I can sort of understand not updating. Often when Windows has had a few years to build up crap in the system a service pack update gets royally borked. You got to figure a computer still at XP SP1 has the mother-load of crap built up in it.

    Still I can't picture a computer that has SP1 even being able to play the vast majority of games on Steam and those with a PC that old and whom are too cheap to buy a newer one are probably too cheap to pay for any games. I mean you can pick up a 2006 Core 2 Duo with 2GB RAM and a high end nVidia or ATI from the same year for little more than $100.
    Reply
  • gidgiddonihah
    When I read the title I got really confused. Who in the heck has XP and still runs SP1 and would ever use steam? XP would have had you update it to SP3 years and years ago.
    Reply
  • jimmysmitty
    DroKingI've had SP3 since forever and Im still sticking to it till the day Windows 7 is dirt cheap.
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

    A hundred bucks. Stop being cheap and get off that archaic OS that can't properly utilize modern hardware let alone more than 3GB of RAM.

    And I can't wait for the day when VALVe stops supporting XP all ogether. Its an old OS and needs to go away like 95/98/2000/ME have.
    Reply