[HOWTO] Run Windows Applications
Posted: 28 Sep 2016, 00:28
Intro~
When switching from being a Windows to a Linux user. Either if it's before or after. You'll eventually reach a point were you ask: "Wait. What about my Windows programs? Can I run them on Porteus?" In short answer, yes. But will require a little bit of setting up. This tutorial written to be short and simple for that task.
Requirements~
First. You'll need to download Wine from USM either by GUI or Terminal that'll require 3 dependencies. Although, you can merge them into a single bundle to avoid cluttering your module folder if you wish. The following is the Wine version and dependencies I used for my 32bit build:
Wine Version: wine-1.9.15-i486-1alien
Dependencies: gd-2.2.1-i586-1, libgphoto2-2.5.10-i586-1, openal-soft-1.17.2-i586-2gv
Size: 73.6 mb
Appended Configuration Size: 337.9 mb
Activating the Module~
After downloading. Move the module to the module boot folder and activate it.
Wine Configuration~
To make sure everything runs properly. Go to your program Start Menu and run Wine Configuration under Settings. The first time you run this, you'll see a message that the configuration is being updated.
During configuration, you'll be prompted 2 messages. Install both Mono and Gecko.
Depending on the speed of your computer and Internet connection. The configuration may appear early before or after both Mono and Gecko are installed.
Accessing Windows Applications~
By now. You'll have access to your portable Windows applications by simply running their respective .exe extension files in their directory. But you're probably asking: "Wait. Where are the programs I installed? Where is the Windows Start Menu? How do I un-install programs properly?"
One step at a time. But before I explain those, you'll need to know where your simulated Windows directory is stored. On a guest account, there's a hidden folder named .wine in the guest folder. Which I presume is the same under root, .wine is in the root folder. To find it, you'll need your file manager to show hidden files. You should be able to directly access it by entering one of these directories in your file manager.
guest
root
Inside you should find a drive_c folder, which contains a simulated Windows directory. It's a good idea to make a shortcut in your file manager to drive_c like I've done. (I've renamed mine.)
Start Menu Shortcuts~
Your Windows programs should be visible in your Porteus Start Menu under Wine section after they are installed.
The Start Menu shortcuts should be under one of the following directories if you have problems: You can double-click the .lnk files which are actually Windows shortcuts to run your installed programs. Also, you can also make a link on your Desktop to the Programs folder or .lnk file.
- Porteus guest account for User: /home/guest/.wine/drive_c/users/guest/Start Menu/
- Porteus guest account for All Users: /home/guest/.wine/drive_c/users/Public/Start Menu/
- Porteus root account for User: /root/.wine/drive_c/users/guest/Start Menu/
- Porteus root account for All Users: /root/.wine/drive_c/users/Public/Start Menu/
Note that making links to programs .exe on your Desktop will only cause problems since the program will think the program files are on your Desktop. You can however make a .desktop file with exec code "wine /directory_to_exe_file_here" to run them.
Add/Remove Programs~
To access Add/Remove Programs. Open the Terminal and run the following command:
Well. That's all for now. Took a while to write this out. If anything can be improved or any errors let me know.
When switching from being a Windows to a Linux user. Either if it's before or after. You'll eventually reach a point were you ask: "Wait. What about my Windows programs? Can I run them on Porteus?" In short answer, yes. But will require a little bit of setting up. This tutorial written to be short and simple for that task.
Requirements~
First. You'll need to download Wine from USM either by GUI or Terminal that'll require 3 dependencies. Although, you can merge them into a single bundle to avoid cluttering your module folder if you wish. The following is the Wine version and dependencies I used for my 32bit build:
Wine Version: wine-1.9.15-i486-1alien
Dependencies: gd-2.2.1-i586-1, libgphoto2-2.5.10-i586-1, openal-soft-1.17.2-i586-2gv
Size: 73.6 mb
Appended Configuration Size: 337.9 mb
Activating the Module~
After downloading. Move the module to the module boot folder and activate it.
Wine Configuration~
To make sure everything runs properly. Go to your program Start Menu and run Wine Configuration under Settings. The first time you run this, you'll see a message that the configuration is being updated.
During configuration, you'll be prompted 2 messages. Install both Mono and Gecko.
Depending on the speed of your computer and Internet connection. The configuration may appear early before or after both Mono and Gecko are installed.
Accessing Windows Applications~
By now. You'll have access to your portable Windows applications by simply running their respective .exe extension files in their directory. But you're probably asking: "Wait. Where are the programs I installed? Where is the Windows Start Menu? How do I un-install programs properly?"
One step at a time. But before I explain those, you'll need to know where your simulated Windows directory is stored. On a guest account, there's a hidden folder named .wine in the guest folder. Which I presume is the same under root, .wine is in the root folder. To find it, you'll need your file manager to show hidden files. You should be able to directly access it by entering one of these directories in your file manager.
guest
Code: Select all
/home/guest/.wine/
Code: Select all
/root/.wine/
Start Menu Shortcuts~
Your Windows programs should be visible in your Porteus Start Menu under Wine section after they are installed.
The Start Menu shortcuts should be under one of the following directories if you have problems: You can double-click the .lnk files which are actually Windows shortcuts to run your installed programs. Also, you can also make a link on your Desktop to the Programs folder or .lnk file.
- Porteus guest account for User: /home/guest/.wine/drive_c/users/guest/Start Menu/
- Porteus guest account for All Users: /home/guest/.wine/drive_c/users/Public/Start Menu/
- Porteus root account for User: /root/.wine/drive_c/users/guest/Start Menu/
- Porteus root account for All Users: /root/.wine/drive_c/users/Public/Start Menu/
Note that making links to programs .exe on your Desktop will only cause problems since the program will think the program files are on your Desktop. You can however make a .desktop file with exec code "wine /directory_to_exe_file_here" to run them.
Add/Remove Programs~
To access Add/Remove Programs. Open the Terminal and run the following command:
Code: Select all
wine uninstaller
Well. That's all for now. Took a while to write this out. If anything can be improved or any errors let me know.