Windows XP support ending impact on retrogaming, Damn you microsoft! Options

[Wounded Ronin]

So I've been reading how Microsoft is going to end support for Windows XP in a few days. They're probably still bitter about how people resisted Windows Vista and that's why they're ending support.

Anyway, I've got an XP gaming machine I left in another country but which I might have access to in a year or so. It's got some old games on it, as well as Steam and some newer ones.

What do you suppose the impacts on running older games would be if I transitioned to Windows 7?

I've got Windows 8 on this computer I'm using it now and my initial dislike of it has grown into a deep and persistent loathing. Why does Microsoft have to keep trying to humiliate and railroad its customers into doing things that are profoundly distasteful, like Windows Vista and Windows 8?

The Microsoft website wants to help you "upgrade" to Windows 8, but I say no thanks, I'd rather use Windows 7.

That gaming machine was created in 2007, but the last time I used it, it was still powerful enough to run all games. The hardware is good so it would be a shame to discard the machine based on OS. And it seems like it would be a bit roundabout to buy a new machine for day to day use, and leave the XP machine offline and only install games on it while trying to keep it virus free by never taking it online.