Has Anyone Successfully Ran Windows Games On A Different Operating System?

McCoy! · 02-09-2009, 00:41

I'm sick to death of windows however l love my windows based games...I was just wondering if anyone has successfully been able to run windows based games in a Linux OS or any other operation system for that matter

I am currently messing around with linux and in particular a specific package called PlayOnLinux...again just wondering if anyone has succeeded and if so how you did it

Thanks

McCoy! · 02-09-2009, 23:38

I got it...there are numerous different versions of linux out there and I built and tried numerous live CD's and found for this particular application PCLinux 2009 is the best operating system.

After I used the package manager to find all upgrades available and applied them I marked the application that I mentioned in my first post called PlayOnLinux. Once it was all installed I restarted my computer inserted my Guild2 disc and installed the game. Worked perfectly without a hitch the first time

NOTE: The wine folder (wine is a progam that was installed with PlayOnLinux) that the game was installed to is hidden by default so you need to right click on your home folder (or users folder) and select properties and check the "Show Hidden Folders" box. And now you have access to those files so that you can backup or add or mod those files to your hearts content

For the technologically challenged I do not recommend switching from windows to linux....I spent many hours googling to figure out how everything worked

Anyways I'm happy...Now I can finish the mod I've been working on for weeks

EDIT: For those scared of losing your windows bought programs DONT BE......Linux has everything you need and more and its all FREE

McCoy! · 04-09-2009, 00:24

Just spent the last day trying to figure out how to transfer all my important files from a wireless windows network back onto my Linux system. (Had to transfer this way cause its a dinosaur pc that doesnt have DVD-RW and I had 20gigs to transfer and that like 30 Data CD's that I would of had to burn

)

I feel like an idiot that it took so long cause its ridiculously easy.
There is a linux file sharing program called Smb4K.
All you have to do is open the program and see what the workgroup is called. The default name of your Linux workgroup is MDKGROUP. Then go to your Windows computer and open the control panel then open your system tab and change the name of your workgroup to that...and now your shared files on your windows pc show up on the Linux pc...Now all you have to do on your linux pc is click on the shared file or folder and mount it. Once mounted you can transfer the mounted files from the windows OS onto your Linux OS.

I can't believe that took me an entire day to figure out

McCoy! · 06-10-2009, 09:32

I've run into another hitch...trying to install a printer on this operating system can be a nightmare...I've been trying for days and its still not working. From what I've seen if you have an HP printer then you're safe and can pretty much guarantee its supported...otherwise do some serious research before switching cause you might end up like me with a useless $350 wireless printer, scanner, fax machine.

Given how easy all the other adjustments have been I'm extremely surprised that a basic need such as easily installing a printer has been overlooked. I dunno I just think its stupid that I'm thinking about installing windows again just so I can use my printer

Ah well....maybe I can trade it on ebay for the HP equivalent...its a Brother MFC-640CW if anyone's interested "joking"

Jacqvern · 07-11-2009, 21:47

You don't need the car as an excuse, though I like that car; you already have an excuse, all of the above...LOL

Ok, I'm teasing you, don't get me wrong, actually I read all the posts carefully, out of technological weirdness

Some years ago, I would have done similar things just for the sake of it, but now I don't have the patience anymore for experiments.

Very interesting though

EDIT:

Quote:

Originally Posted by McCoy!

Given how easy all the other adjustments have been I'm extremely surprised that a basic need such as easily installing a printer has been overlooked. I dunno I just think its stupid that I'm thinking about installing windows again just so I can use my printer

You could try Ghost. That way, you can have something like another computer on your PC, where you can install anything you want (another OS, other versions, other software, hardware, etc.) and experiment with anything, without losing your main structure in windows and/or any programs or files.

McCoy! · 24-01-2010, 20:26

I've given up and have decided to partition my hard drive. Games and printer for windows and everything else for linux...maybe one day I will have enough computer smarts to completely eliminate windows but until then I need both

Stürmische Tage · 24-01-2010, 20:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by McCoy!

I've given up and have decided to partition my hard drive. Games and printer for windows and everything else for linux...maybe one day I will have enough computer smarts to completely eliminate windows but until then I need both

That is a good decision.

Personally, I am too lazy to have 2 operation systems installed, I wouldn't want the hassle to switch systems, just to play a game. But then again, it probably separates gaming and working effectively, since you can't just switch to the games.

I should try that too, windows only for games, linux for the rest. I get the impression, that I would waste a lot less time at the pc that way. Of course not taking into account the time trying to setup linux properly. Which can be quite a lot of time, as I discovered, since I already tried setting up linux a couple of times, but I kept giving up somewhere along the way, so I am still stuck to windows.

Well, I guess that went a little far offtopic.

To add a little topic related information.

My HP Printer always worked out of the box, just connected it via USB.

McCoy! · 24-01-2010, 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stürmische Tage

Of course not taking into account the time trying to setup linux properly. Which can be quite a lot of time, as I discovered, since I already tried setting up linux a couple of times, but I kept giving up somewhere along the way, so I am still stuck to windows.

Well, I guess that went a little far offtopic.

To add a little topic related information.

My HP Printer always worked out of the box, just connected it via USB.

Oh its time consuming but definitely worth the effort in my opinion. The freedom to infinitely customize your OS and download usable free programs at will through the package manager that have better tech support then ones you pay for was well worth the learning curve.

Oh what? HP printers are plug and play? Thanks for rubbing it in

Stürmische Tage · 25-01-2010, 05:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by McCoy!

Oh what? HP printers are plug and play? Thanks for rubbing it in

Right now, I feel like I am gonna switch to Linux, because of my printer.

For whatever reason, my printer does not work with Windows anymore, even though its plugged in. It even worked a few days back, but now it just refuses to print. There is no error message, just nothing happening. With Linux, I never had problems with my printer. So much for the Plug&Play of USB-Printers.

I really wish, that my printer would just work.

But by reflecting on this situation, I realized: "If I can't even get my printer to work properly under windows, then how am I supposed to set up Linux properly."

Well, I will give Linux another try, because its really pissing me off, that my windows-pc can't print anymore. And it doesn't even make sense, because from my laptop I can print. I have the same os and software installed on laptop and pc, but the pc just refuses to print and I can't figure out why.

*nirvana* · 25-01-2010, 10:21

Sorry for not reading this thread before, I simply didn't see it ^^
I'm running Linux for university and sometimes for work and Windows for games and some projects that require Windows.
Games on Linux may work with Wine, but as you might have realized it can be very frustrating trying to make them work

I've given up to try long ago (last game I played on Linux was HL2

).

But your printer should work. There are very few devices left that simply don't run with Linux, in case of your printer it should have been enough to search for the appropriate PPD-file and make Cups find your printer (via http://localhost:631).

Oh, and if I might recommend some distribution to you: Debian is the most stable distribution I found so far (tried Ubuntu, SuSE; Gentoo, Arch Linux and Debian and also some derivations of these distributions).
You should pick one of the older and bigger distributions simply because they all have a big package repository and some package managing tool.

Stürmische Tage · 25-01-2010, 13:35

Does Crossover work better than wine for running games?

I have a crossover-pro-7.1.0.sh and a crossover-games-7.1.2.sh file, plus the keys for it. Last year, they were available for free for a limited time. But so far, I never got around trying crossover. First though, I will have to figure out, how to install a .sh file, so far I have only tried to install .dpm and .deb files.

From the Distributions I tried, I like Fedora, but somehow Ubuntu just seems easier to use, so I tend to erase Fedora fairly quickly from my hard-drive.

I never really figured out, how to get the compiz-fusion cube to work, I spent lots of time trying to figure it out, but I never got further than having the two virtual desktops, but no animation what soever while switching. Which means, that I did not get very far, since there are already two virtual desktops right from the start.

*nirvana* · 25-01-2010, 13:52

I never tried crossover, but I doubt that it's far better than Wine/Cedega. If you want to play old games both will do, most modern games won't run well on Linux no matter what you try.

Sunpack · 25-01-2010, 18:27

@Stürmische Tage: you can't really install an .sh file because a sh file is a shell file something like .bat files in windows.

I tried Crossover once but i think it wasn't better then wine.

HomerSp · 25-01-2010, 18:35

As Sunpack said you don't actually install an sh file, you'll need to open a terminal and do
sh whatever.sh

However, I think that Crossover is far too complicated and it's not actually better than Wine.

McCoy! · 25-01-2010, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by nirvana

Sorry for not reading this thread before, I simply didn't see it ^^
I'm running Linux for university and sometimes for work and Windows for games and some projects that require Windows.
Games on Linux may work with Wine, but as you might have realized it can be very frustrating trying to make them work

I've given up to try long ago (last game I played on Linux was HL2

).

The guild 2 actually works quite well on my linux distro if I make sure I turn off the 3D desktop effects before I play...Infact I've even played online successfully with just the regular crashes after a few hours

...however other games I haven't been so lucky with

Quote:

Originally Posted by nirvana

But your printer should work. There are very few devices left that simply don't run with Linux, in case of your printer it should have been enough to search for the appropriate PPD-file and make Cups find your printer (via http://localhost:631).

I suppose that I erred in my wording....I simply meant that I could not get my printer to work on my chosen linux distribution. My printer does not use a PPD file and cups has been updated since brother released their linux printer files so I would need to run an older version of linux to get my printer to work easily. As it stands now I know pretty much anything is possible but I am not computer savvy enough to get my printer working with my current distribution.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nirvana

Oh, and if I might recommend some distribution to you: Debian is the most stable distribution I found so far (tried Ubuntu, SuSE; Gentoo, Arch Linux and Debian and also some derivations of these distributions).
You should pick one of the older and bigger distributions simply because they all have a big package repository and some package managing tool.

I created a whole whack of live cd's and tried all of the above and did not like the feel of any of those. I liked PCLinuxOS 2009 the best especially when I installed Gnome overtop of the KDE and was able to have the best of both worlds...however you are right perhaps it would have been better to install an older version

02-09-2009, 00:41	#1
McCoy! Master Thief Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,936	Has Anyone Successfully Ran Windows Games On A Different Operating System? I'm sick to death of windows however l love my windows based games...I was just wondering if anyone has successfully been able to run windows based games in a Linux OS or any other operation system for that matter I am currently messing around with linux and in particular a specific package called PlayOnLinux...again just wondering if anyone has succeeded and if so how you did it Thanks __________________ I'm not sure if I will go through a mid-life crisis However when the time comes I will be using that as an excuse to get me one of these Spoiler:

02-09-2009, 23:38	#2
McCoy! Master Thief Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,936	I got it...there are numerous different versions of linux out there and I built and tried numerous live CD's and found for this particular application PCLinux 2009 is the best operating system. After I used the package manager to find all upgrades available and applied them I marked the application that I mentioned in my first post called PlayOnLinux. Once it was all installed I restarted my computer inserted my Guild2 disc and installed the game. Worked perfectly without a hitch the first time NOTE: The wine folder (wine is a progam that was installed with PlayOnLinux) that the game was installed to is hidden by default so you need to right click on your home folder (or users folder) and select properties and check the "Show Hidden Folders" box. And now you have access to those files so that you can backup or add or mod those files to your hearts content For the technologically challenged I do not recommend switching from windows to linux....I spent many hours googling to figure out how everything worked Anyways I'm happy...Now I can finish the mod I've been working on for weeks EDIT: For those scared of losing your windows bought programs DONT BE......Linux has everything you need and more and its all FREE __________________ I'm not sure if I will go through a mid-life crisis However when the time comes I will be using that as an excuse to get me one of these Spoiler: Last edited by McCoy! : 02-09-2009 at 23:47

04-09-2009, 00:24	#3
McCoy! Master Thief Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,936	Wireless Network Transfer From WindowsPC to LinuxPC Just spent the last day trying to figure out how to transfer all my important files from a wireless windows network back onto my Linux system. (Had to transfer this way cause its a dinosaur pc that doesnt have DVD-RW and I had 20gigs to transfer and that like 30 Data CD's that I would of had to burn ) I feel like an idiot that it took so long cause its ridiculously easy. There is a linux file sharing program called Smb4K. All you have to do is open the program and see what the workgroup is called. The default name of your Linux workgroup is MDKGROUP. Then go to your Windows computer and open the control panel then open your system tab and change the name of your workgroup to that...and now your shared files on your windows pc show up on the Linux pc...Now all you have to do on your linux pc is click on the shared file or folder and mount it. Once mounted you can transfer the mounted files from the windows OS onto your Linux OS. I can't believe that took me an entire day to figure out __________________ I'm not sure if I will go through a mid-life crisis However when the time comes I will be using that as an excuse to get me one of these Spoiler: Last edited by McCoy! : 04-09-2009 at 00:32

06-10-2009, 09:32	#4
McCoy! Master Thief Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,936	I've run into another hitch...trying to install a printer on this operating system can be a nightmare...I've been trying for days and its still not working. From what I've seen if you have an HP printer then you're safe and can pretty much guarantee its supported...otherwise do some serious research before switching cause you might end up like me with a useless $350 wireless printer, scanner, fax machine. Given how easy all the other adjustments have been I'm extremely surprised that a basic need such as easily installing a printer has been overlooked. I dunno I just think its stupid that I'm thinking about installing windows again just so I can use my printer Ah well....maybe I can trade it on ebay for the HP equivalent...its a Brother MFC-640CW if anyone's interested "joking" __________________ I'm not sure if I will go through a mid-life crisis However when the time comes I will be using that as an excuse to get me one of these Spoiler:

24-01-2010, 20:26	#6
McCoy! Master Thief Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 1,936	I've given up and have decided to partition my hard drive. Games and printer for windows and everything else for linux...maybe one day I will have enough computer smarts to completely eliminate windows but until then I need both __________________ I'm not sure if I will go through a mid-life crisis However when the time comes I will be using that as an excuse to get me one of these Spoiler:

25-01-2010, 10:21	#10
nirvana Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Graz/Stmk/Aut Age: 23 Posts: 5,921	Sorry for not reading this thread before, I simply didn't see it ^^ I'm running Linux for university and sometimes for work and Windows for games and some projects that require Windows. Games on Linux may work with Wine, but as you might have realized it can be very frustrating trying to make them work I've given up to try long ago (last game I played on Linux was HL2 ). But your printer should work. There are very few devices left that simply don't run with Linux, in case of your printer it should have been enough to search for the appropriate PPD-file and make Cups find your printer (via http://localhost:631). Oh, and if I might recommend some distribution to you: Debian is the most stable distribution I found so far (tried Ubuntu, SuSE; Gentoo, Arch Linux and Debian and also some derivations of these distributions). You should pick one of the older and bigger distributions simply because they all have a big package repository and some package managing tool. __________________ Aber die Vogonen setzten sich trotzdem drauf. - Douglas Adams Last edited by nirvana : 25-01-2010 at 10:24

25-01-2010, 13:35	#11
Stürmische Tage Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 16	Does Crossover work better than wine for running games? I have a crossover-pro-7.1.0.sh and a crossover-games-7.1.2.sh file, plus the keys for it. Last year, they were available for free for a limited time. But so far, I never got around trying crossover. First though, I will have to figure out, how to install a .sh file, so far I have only tried to install .dpm and .deb files. From the Distributions I tried, I like Fedora, but somehow Ubuntu just seems easier to use, so I tend to erase Fedora fairly quickly from my hard-drive. I never really figured out, how to get the compiz-fusion cube to work, I spent lots of time trying to figure it out, but I never got further than having the two virtual desktops, but no animation what soever while switching. Which means, that I did not get very far, since there are already two virtual desktops right from the start.

25-01-2010, 13:52	#12
nirvana Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Graz/Stmk/Aut Age: 23 Posts: 5,921	I never tried crossover, but I doubt that it's far better than Wine/Cedega. If you want to play old games both will do, most modern games won't run well on Linux no matter what you try. __________________ Aber die Vogonen setzten sich trotzdem drauf. - Douglas Adams

25-01-2010, 18:27	#13
Sunpack Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 27	@Stürmische Tage: you can't really install an .sh file because a sh file is a shell file something like .bat files in windows. I tried Crossover once but i think it wasn't better then wine.

25-01-2010, 18:35	#14
HomerSp Best Newcomer Android Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sweden Age: 20 Posts: 251	As Sunpack said you don't actually install an sh file, you'll need to open a terminal and do sh whatever.sh However, I think that Crossover is far too complicated and it's not actually better than Wine.

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