dXter Member Posts: 59 From: Texas, the US of A Registered: 09-26-2006 |
I just put together a new PC, and now i've decided to get a new hard drive instead of sticking with my old 40GB, so I'll also be getting a new operating system (the Windows license on my old hard drive will be used on another computer), so I decided to try Linux. Since I've never used Linux before, I'll get Ubuntu, I hear it's very easy to set it up. Anyways, my question is this: is there a good emulator that can run Windows programs under Linux? There are many programs that I want to use and games I want to play that are Windows-only. Are there any fast, stable Windows emulator-type things for Linux? Another thing I'm kind of worried about is hardware driver compatibility with Linux. Will the normal drivers work on Linux, or do I have to get Linux versions? Help would be really appreciated, as I'm obviously a Linux newbie. ------------------ "Time is an excellent teacher, but eventually it kills all of its students." [This message has been edited by dXter (edited December 16, 2006).] |
TwoBrothersSoftware Member Posts: 141 From: Janesville, Wi USA` Registered: 08-05-2006 |
Wine does not do to bad. Your best bet is VM ware you can down load a limited time trial and create your "image" - once the time runs out your can't create any images but the old ones run just fine. |
Lazarus Member Posts: 1668 From: USA Registered: 06-06-2006 |
So the demo of VMware can take a MS Windows program and change it to be able to run on Linux - even after the demo expires? |
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TwoBrothersSoftware Member Posts: 141 From: Janesville, Wi USA` Registered: 08-05-2006 |
No it still does not run under linux. VM ware is a virtual machine running a fake machine as a piece of software. Duri9ng the demo period you can set up your own virtual machines on your system. After the dmeo expires you cannot create new virtual machines - how ever you can run the ones you have made. There is nothing on Linux that gives 100% emulation - even VM ware has issues the simulated 3d acceloration does not work 100% with directX 9. I still have XP on this machine - even with VM ware - unfortunatly with Windows Vista alot of what I just described goes away, |
buddboy Member Posts: 2220 From: New Albany, Indiana, U.S. Registered: 10-08-2004 |
Ubuntu is very easy to set up. internet is real easy to set up also (on it). But if you get it I recommend downloading the kubuntu-desktop package right after you get it set up. I thought about VMWare. but why not just set up a dual boot? But wine is pretty good for your emulation purposes. even tho it's not an emulator. Wine will sort of do what Laz said. it takes your Windows program and runs it. it doesn't change it tho. Oh and about the hardware drivers. Ubuntu (and other distros, not all of them though) will take those drivers, convert them for Linux, and package them with the system. As long as your hardware didn't come out like yesterday, and it isn't some obscure brand you can only buy in Guatemalan retail stores (haha) it should work right out of the box with Ubuntu. most of it anyways. usually you can find Linux versions pretty easy on the internet, tho they may not always work, since they are often hacked up or for another distro. but you can fix the second one. PM if you need any help with setting up a driver. If I can I'll try to help you. ------------------ [This message has been edited by buddboy (edited December 17, 2006).] [This message has been edited by buddboy (edited December 17, 2006).] |
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TwoBrothersSoftware Member Posts: 141 From: Janesville, Wi USA` Registered: 08-05-2006 |
quote: VMware now has this 'not quite full screen mode - and if you run dual monitors like I do - you run your emulator on one monitor and linux apps on the other. It supports cut and paste across platforms. While if it works under wine that's better. |
CPUFreak91 Member Posts: 2337 From: Registered: 02-01-2005 |
quote: Or you could just download the Kubuntu CD. 'Cause dual booting makes it hard to debug cross-platform games. With VMware I switch between windows, edit a file, and run the program in emulated windows world, then change the window and edit someting... then go back... etc. Rebooting would take ages to debug something and make sure it works on Linux and Windows. WINE is good... very good. It actually converts windows sytem calls into Linux system calls and translates the Linux call replies into something the windows program understands. Very handy. I use it almost every day and am working on getting a few Windows games to work under WINE. Actually most of the drivers you speak of are native to the linux kernel... no need to "convert" anything. If the driver isn't in the kernel... and can't be loaded as a module (Ubuntu can take care of that if it's in a Ubuntu repository) then you're probably out of luck. ------------------ [This message has been edited by CPUFreak91 (edited December 17, 2006).] |
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dXter Member Posts: 59 From: Texas, the US of A Registered: 09-26-2006 |
Wow, WINE seems to be pretty good--their app database is nice and big. But is there a program that can take any Windows application and "convert" it to produce a Linux-compatible version of it? WINE runs the Windows program directly, right? Thanks for the help  ------------------ "Time is an excellent teacher, but eventually it kills all of its students." |
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CPUFreak91 Member Posts: 2337 From: Registered: 02-01-2005 |
quote: Unfortunately, no, there isn't. ------------------ |
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buddboy Member Posts: 2220 From: New Albany, Indiana, U.S. Registered: 10-08-2004 |
no there isn't. at least not that I know of. or CPU either, apparently. haha. ------------------ |
