Ubuntu is now more and more important to be used by personal users, unfortunately there are still many computer programs that can only be used on Microsoft Windows. However, with a program called Wine, you can now run many Windows programs from the Ubuntu desktop, moreover Wine is completely free and legal.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Wine Installation
Step 1. Open Software Center
Software Center is Ubuntu's package manager, and the most stable version of Wine for Ubuntu is easiest to install from here. You need an internet connection to install it.
You can also install the latest unstable version from the Wine developers, but this is not recommended for most users as there may still be many issues
Step 2. Search for "wine" in Software Center
The Wine program should appear first in the list of results.
Step 3. Click "Install" to start installing the Wine software
Installation may take a few minutes.
Step 4. Open Terminal once Wine is finished installing
You must configure Wine before you can use it. Do this via Terminal.
You can open Terminal from Applications → Accessories → Terminal, or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T
Step 5. Type
winecfg and press Enter . A new directory will be created on the computer that acts as the Windows "C:" drive so that you can run the program.
This directory is named.wine and is hidden in the Home directory
Step 6. Set your Windows emulation configuration options
Once the "C:" drive is created, a configuration window will open to adjust the mock version settings of Windows. In other tabs you can adjust other settings.
- " Applications " - You can set the Windows version for each installed application. " Default Settings " is the version of Windows that will load for any application that does not have operating system settings.
- " Libraries " - You can customize DLLs for Windows clones. Most users can ignore this setting. Changes here are only necessary if some programs are not running properly.
- " Graphics " - You can adjust options such as screen size, mouse "capture" and resolution. This option is tied to the " Applications " tab so the changes here are application specific.
- " Drives " - You can map virtual drives for Wine using your own drives and directories. To find your disk drive Path, right-click the icon on the desktop. You can also click " autodetect " so that Wine automatically detects the installed drive.
- " Desktop Integration " - You can customize the theme and appearance of the clone application.
- " Audio " - Adjusts the audio settings for Wine. Most users can override this setting so Wine takes the settings from Linux.
Part 2 of 2: Installing and Running Wine Apps
Step 1. Download the Windows application, or insert the installation CD
You can install Windows applications as if you were using Windows. If you downloaded an installer, place it somewhere on your computer that is easily accessible.
Step 2. Open Terminal and navigate to the directory containing the installer
If you are installing from a disc, see the next step.
Step 3. Run the installer by typing
wine programname.extension.
For example, if you downloaded a file called "itunes_installer.exe", type wine itunes_installer.exe and press Enter. This will run the program as if you were using Windows.
If you want to install programs from disk, make sure the disk drive has a drive letter assigned to Wine, then type the following command: wine start 'D:\setup.exe'. Replace "setup.exe" with the actual file name
Step 4. Follow each prompt to install the program
The installation will proceed just as you would any program in Windows. If prompted for an installation location, select C:\Program Files.
Step 5. Locate the installed application in the Ubuntu Applications menu or on the desktop
Many Windows applications will create the same shortcut as in Windows, so you can easily start it by double-clicking it.
Step 6. Run the app via Terminal if you can't find the shortcut
If the installed program doesn't create a shortcut, use Terminal to start it.
- Navigate to the location of the program's executable file. For example: /home/user/.wine/drive_c/Program Files/Apple.
- Type in programname.extension wine and press Enter to start the program. For example: wine iTunes.exe
Step 7. Create a shortcut for the Wine program
If you don't like typing the Wine command into Terminal to start a program, you can create a shortcut for the program on the desktop.
- Right-click the desktop and select "Create launcher".
- Choose an icon from the list or add your own.
- In the " Command " field, type wine locationprogram/program.extension. The program location is where the program executable file is located. For example: wine /home/user/.wine/drive_c/Program Files/itunes.exe.
- Uncheck the box " Run in terminal ".
Resources and Reference
- https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Wine
-
https://wiki.winehq.org/FAQ
