Best emulator for older windows programs

[IbChristian]

OK, I know that "emulator" is not exactly the most accurate generic term, feel free to correct me. I am here to learn, after all.

What I'm looking for is a utility, like Wine, WinBoat, etcetera etcetra that will let me run a program on Linux which was designed for an older version of Windows. XP, to be exact. Do such animals exist today? (my DeLorean is shot!) And if so, which one(s) would yield the best result?

 

[Condobloke]

Which xp program ?

 

[bob466]

You can't go past a Virtual Machine...I have a windoze 7 VM.
I don't use it much now as 99% of my software is Linux.

Back in the XP days (2001) I used software called DVD Shrink...it was last updated in 2004. I just happened to think of it last year. To my surprise you can still download it.

So I downloaded it to Mint...put it in my w7 VM and installed it...of course HandBrake (Linux Version) is the one to use these days and so much better too.

 

[CaffeineAddict]

It should work, but you'll need 32 bit wine prefix:

https://forum.winehq.org/viewtopic.php?t=32978

Before you ask how to see this:

How do I create a 32-bit WINE prefix?

How do I create a 32-bit Wine prefix on Ubuntu 12.04 64-bit?

askubuntu.com

 

[MikeWalsh]

Me, I prefer the WINE AppImages. Simple to "install", simple to get rid of. But you'll no doubt want an easy, user-friendly method; the AppImages involve the creation of a few sym-links via the terminal, so not exactly noob-friendly.

Just thought I'd mention that such things DO exist.

I, too, have a single Windows application that I use regularly.....and it, too, dates back to XP days; a graphics application.....a photo-editor, called PhotoScape. Because I don't want WINE permanently on the system, I took a WINE AppImage, nabbed the 'portable' version of PhotoScape - from PortableApps.com - and built a completely self-contained 'portable' build of PhotoScape for use when I want it.

I start it from its Menu entry; it 'links' the WINE AppImage into the system; it runs the PhotoScape app. When I'm done with it, I close the program, and the WINE AppImage disconnects itself from the system. Took a bit of figuring out, but it's a simple, clean & effective way of running an individual Windows application in Linux.....and it leaves no traces of itself on the system when it shuts down.

Bob's yr uncle.....job done.

With 'Puppy' Linux being designed as a single-user, 'hobbyist' system, we pull all kinds of stunts that most folks wouldn't dare try. Everybody else here will, of course, detail the official, 'correct' way of fully installing WINE into the system.....and that's as it should be.

I like MY method, though. Works for me!


Mike.

 

[IbChristian]

I have 1 program for which there seems to be no satisfactory Linux equivalent. Nor for that matter does anyone seem to make such a program for any operating system, let alone Linux. Even if there was it probably wouldn't run the files I have, old as they are, and I really don't want to remake all of them if I don't have to.

The program (DeLorme TopoUSA ver-8.0) was made to work with Windows XP (SP2 or later, which I believe is 64bit). It also works on Windows 7, because 7 had a little feature which would allow it to run older programs. Now I doubt there is anyone here familiar with the Topo program, so don't worry about that.

I'll try Wine to start and see how it does. Any "for dummies" tutorials you can point me too? BTW the program loads from a CD-ROM.

 

[CaffeineAddict]

was made to work with Windows XP (SP2 or later, which I believe is 64bit)

Therefore you need 64bit wine prefix.
To confirm the exe file is 64bit you can run file ProgramName.exe

Any "for dummies" tutorials you can point me too?

You can search for tutorials online, I'm not fan or them because tutorials go out of date and when they do they stop working.
I didn't try any so can't share 1 that I know it works.

There's a lot to wine, your best bet is to study, read docs etc. for what you need to know for your case.

 

[bob466]

I have wine version 9 installed for this very old software...

But a VM is much better.

 

[IbChristian]

OK, I tried using the software manager, but it gave me no launch button, so I removed it and went to Flathub and used the Terminal to load it. Everything went fine until I got to a bunch of very technical boxes. Not knowing what to select, can any of you walk me through this? Or direct me to somewhere that will? Please remember I'm Linux-illiterate and not that computer savvy in general

Thanks

 

[CaffeineAddict]

until I got to a bunch of very technical boxes. Not knowing what to select, can any of you walk me through this?

This is not how stuff works, the usual answer to this is that you need to show some effort on your side before asking for help.

For instance read some manuals, search for guides and overall do so trial and error and finally show where exactly you stuck and what the actual problem is.

It would be much easier for anyone to write a tutorial for you than guiding you over the board, but will you read and follow it?

 

[IbChristian]

This is not how stuff works, the usual answer to this is that you need to show some effort on your side before asking for help.

For instance read some manuals, search for guides and overall do so trial and error and finally show where exactly you stuck and what the actual problem is.

It would be much easier for anyone to write a tutorial for you than guiding you over the board, but will you read and follow it?

I've been looking, but everything I found either skips these steps or pretends they don't happen.Either that or are directed at advanced users; at least more advanced than I am, judging from my confusion. That's why I asked if anyone knows what to do with these "choose a wine prefix" etc. menus or can at least point me to a basic learner's tutorial. The internet is a BIG place!