HOW TO RUN LATEST VS CODE IN WINDOWS 7 X64

UPDATED ON: 2024-04-06
v1.81.1 is a more recent version, which can be executed without any efforts
v1.88 is a hacked [FINAL version] for Windows 7 x64
So, Windows 7 users are pretty safe at this point despite artificial restrictions of big corps.

Usually i’m not feeling so delightful regarding microsoft modern programs, but this one is pretty good.
And of course they tried to artificially cripple it under “obsolete” Windows 7.

Officially latest VS Code version to support Windows 7 is [v1.70] and it’s dated back to July 2022.
Notwithstanding this statement you can easily run the most recent version of software [v1.81.1] [direct link], just by downloading ZIP archive,
MSI installer has artificial stub to display dumb message that you are using not supported OS and blocking installation.

After you’ll launch unpacked VS Code software will display one-time warning about Windows 7 EOL.
It can be totally ignored and muted by pressing cog gear and selecting “DON’T SHOW AGAIN”.

However, there is one more closable EOL notification in the top bar of the program.

Quick and dirty hack is to remove EOL banner code related to Windows 7 obsolescence.
[Notepad++] is recommended. Location of configuration file:

C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Local\Programs\Microsoft VS Code\resources\app\out\vs\workbench\workbench.desktop.main.js 

Before any manipulations please make a backup copy:

workbench.desktop.main.js

Code to remove [triple click to select whole line]:

For v1.79.2:

if(c.isWindows){const be=this.G.os.release.split("."),ke=be[0],me=be[1],Ie=new Map([["6",new Map([["1","Windows 7 / Windows Server 2008 R2"],["2","Windows 8 / Windows Server 2012"],["3","Windows 8.1 / Windows Server 2012 R2"]])]]);if(Ie.get(ke)?.has(me)){const Ee=(0,t.localize)(35,null,this.Q.nameLong,Ie.get(ke)?.get(me)),Re=[{label:(0,t.localize)(36,null),href:"https://aka.ms/vscode-faq-old-windows"}];this.bb.show({id:"windowseol.banner",message:Ee,ariaLabel:(0,t.localize)(37,null,Ee),actions:Re,icon:le.Codicon.warning}),this.t.prompt(w.Severity.Warning,Ee,[{label:(0,t.localize)(38,null),run:()=>this.J.open(I.URI.parse("https://aka.ms/vscode-faq-old-windows"))}],{neverShowAgain:{id:"windowseol",isSecondary:!0,scope:w.NeverShowAgainScope.APPLICATION},priority:w.NotificationPriority.URGENT,sticky:!0})}}if(c.isMacintosh){const be=this.G.os.release.split(".")[0],ke=new Map([["15","OS X El Capitan"],["16","macOS Sierra"]]);if(ke.has(be)){const me=(0,t.localize)(39,null,this.Q.nameLong,ke.get(be)),Ie=[{label:(0,t.localize)(40,null),href:"https://aka.ms/vscode-faq-old-macOS"}];this.bb.show({id:"macoseol.banner",message:me,ariaLabel:(0,t.localize)(41,null,me),actions:Ie,icon:le.Codicon.warning}),this.t.prompt(w.Severity.Warning,me,[{label:(0,t.localize)(42,null),run:()=>this.J.open(I.URI.parse("https://aka.ms/vscode-faq-old-macOS"))}],{neverShowAgain:{id:"macoseol",isSecondary:!0,scope:w.NeverShowAgainScope.APPLICATION},priority:w.NotificationPriority.URGENT,sticky:!0})}}

For v1.81.1:

if(h.$i){const be=this.F.os.release.split("."),ve=be[0],ge=be[1],Se=new Map([["6",new Map([["1","Windows 7 / Windows Server 2008 R2"],["2","Windows 8 / Windows Server 2012"],["3","Windows 8.1 / Windows Server 2012 R2"]])]]);if(Se.get(ve)?.has(ge)){const Ee=(0,t.localize)(37,null,this.P.nameLong,Se.get(ve)?.get(ge)),De=[{label:(0,t.localize)(38,null),href:"https://aka.ms/vscode-faq-old-windows"}];this.$.show({id:"windowseol.banner",message:Ee,ariaLabel:(0,t.localize)(39,null,Ee),actions:De,icon:ce.$Aj.warning}),this.s.prompt(C.Severity.Warning,Ee,[{label:(0,t.localize)(40,null),run:()=>this.I.open(S.URI.parse("https://aka.ms/vscode-faq-old-windows"))}],{neverShowAgain:{id:"windowseol",isSecondary:!0,scope:C.NeverShowAgainScope.APPLICATION},priority:C.NotificationPriority.URGENT,sticky:!0})}}

After removal VS Code will complain about integrity of installation:

"Your Code installation appears to be corrupt. Please reinstall."

Just ignore it and reply with:

Don't show again!