Microsoft's Operating System, Windows 7, successfully booting in a vertical position on the Steam Deck, a portable gaming device, is a scientific anomaly according to an adapter, provoking controversy in the tech world.

The topic of the impending end-of-life status of Windows 10 has been a hot discussion, but a different conversation has emerged surrounding the Steam Deck, Valve's handheld gaming PC. Some tech enthusiasts have been experimenting with running older versions of Microsoft's operating system on this device, such as Windows 7 and Windows XP.

One such enthusiast, Bob Pony, has shared his success in running Windows 7 on the Steam Deck. In a YouTube video uploaded in 2022, he demonstrated getting to the desktop using Windows 7 on the device. However, it's important to note that running Windows 7 on the Steam Deck is not officially supported by Valve, and due to driver and compatibility issues, it may not deliver the gaming experience that Valve designed, which relies on SteamOS and Proton for optimized game compatibility on the Steam Deck hardware.

The Steam Deck's operating system is based on an Arch Linux spinoff, and its screen is designed to be in portrait mode, which might lead some to try running older versions of Windows for the sake of legacy software compatibility or gaming experience. This is not intended by Valve, but it has become a neat hobby project that keeps the spirit of older Windows builds alive.

Interestingly, the Steam Deck's panels are built with portrait-oriented devices in mind, and it uses a custom-made "Van Gogh" AMD Zen 2 APU. This custom hardware could potentially allow for a manufacturer to digitally rotate the image on the Steam Deck by 90 degrees, but this is not a standard feature.

It's worth mentioning that Microsoft's Windows 7 is capable of running natively on the Steam Deck, and while it may be possible to run Windows XP, it's not officially supported by Microsoft, like Windows 7 or Windows 8.1. Windows 7, in particular, was Microsoft's possibly most beloved version, and some people still prefer older versions of the dominant operating system.

The success of the SteamOS on the Steam Deck has also spurred on the "Year of the Linux Desktop" crowd, demonstrating the growing interest and acceptance of Linux-based systems. However, it's unclear if one can play games on a Steam Deck with Windows 7 as intended, and it's important to approach these experiments with caution and understanding of the potential issues.

In conclusion, while running older versions of Windows on the Steam Deck is a fascinating exploration for tech enthusiasts, it's essential to remember that it's not an officially supported or intended use of the device. For the best gaming experience, it's recommended to stick with the SteamOS and Proton, the operating system and compatibility layer designed specifically for the Steam Deck.

Microsoft's Operating System, Windows 7, successfully booting in a vertical position on the Steam Deck, a portable gaming device, is a scientific anomaly according to an adapter, provoking controversy in the tech world.