How To Install A Windows Program In Ubuntu

How To Install A Windows Program In UbuntuThis post is part of a series on How To Install Programs In Ubuntu Hardy Heron and Intrepid Ibex.

Most of the time, the very best solution is to use software written to run in Linux, when you are in Ubuntu. But when you just have to have that special program that is only available for Windows and no other will do… here is How To Install A Windows Program In Ubuntu Hardy Heron or Intrepid Ibex.

Applications > Add/Remove… > All Open Source Applications > Search Wine > Enable (check in check box) > Wine Windows Emulator > Apply Changes… etc – follow through until Wine is installed.

Wine will allow many programs to run in Ubuntu, that otherwise would not.

About Wine Windows Emulator:
“Microsoft Windows Compatibility Layer (Binary Emulator and Library)
Wine is a compatibility layer for running Windows applications on Linux. Applications are run at full speed without the need of cpu emulation. Wine does not require Microsoft Windows, however it can use native system dll files in place of its own if they are available.
This package includes a program loader for running unmodified Windows executables as well as the Wine project’s free version of the Windows API for running programs ported from Windows.”
Homepage: http://www.winehq.org/

Installing a Non-Linux Windows Program In Ubuntu:

For our example we will use Sigma Photo Pro which is a program that allows one to edit RAW Camera Files from Sigma Cameras like the Sigma SD14.

You can use most any Windows program and follow along. Be aware that not all programs run under Wine but many do quite easily and others do with some tweaking.

Getting Setup:

VitalBodies downloaded the Sigma Photo Pro program and placed the program in a folder.

Navigate: Navigate to the folder where your program is located.

Places > Desktop (for example if your program in on the desktop)

Installation:

Right Click (Use the right button rather than left) on the Setup.exe or the file you would normally use to install the program if you were in Windows. In VitalBodies example case, for the Sigma program, the file is called Setup.exe.

Choose Open With Other Application or Wine Windows Program Loader.

Scroll down until you see Wine Windows Program Loader.

Left Click the Open button.

After A Short Pause:

With any luck, your software’s installation program should start, and you can default on through the installation.

VitalBodies recommends the defaults (in most cases) unless you know to choose otherwise.

VitalBodies Sigma Photo Pro program installed flawlessly!

Reboot: For what ever reason we did need to a reboot for the Sigma Photo Pro program to show up in the Wine menu. This is most likely because we had just installed Wine without doing a reboot after installing.

Starting The Program You Just Installed:

Applications > Wine > Programs >

For Vitalbodies we found our Sigma program here:

Applications > Wine > Programs > SIGMA > Photo Pro > Sigma Photo Pro

We also found a Sigma icon on the desktop to start the program.

The Sigma program started right up and ran great! If yours did not, visit Winehq: http://www.winehq.org/ and check out the FAQ, forums, wiki or the Application Database (AppDB) for more information.

WINE Basics:

Remember, Wine Is Not an Emulator (WINE)! Wine is a compatibility layer for running Windows applications on Linux. Applications are run at full speed without the need of cpu emulation.

Wine creates it’s own environment in which to work. An example of this is the Browse C:/ Drive within the Wine menus.

Applications > Wine > Browse C:/ Drive

Here your windows programs will find their more familiar home. Like C: drive and the Programs Files folder.

Also check out Applications > Wine > Configure Wine.

Configuring Wine can help if your program has special needs or was written to run under a particular version of Windows. Many people use Wine to run programs like ACAD, Photoshop and many of the games, so called, gamers play.

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VitalBodies would like to thank the WINE team for making things work!

- Free As In Freedom -

- Visit Winehq: http://www.winehq.org/ -

This post is part of a series on How To Install Programs In Ubuntu.