Windows Operating Environment within Linux vs Keeping a Windows Laptop Separately

[TroyLinux]

Hi all

I have recently installed Linux Mint 22.2 64 Deb (and am loving the new world of non Windows Possibilities!

There is some software I have used long term from Windows (Web Plus X8 - Serif) and I heard that you can set up a "Windows Operating Environment" within the Linux System to run Windows Software. (Windows container within Linux - Not a dual boot)

Firstly, is this true?

Secondly, how can I make this happen?
Are there any Storage or processing requirements I should keep in mind?

I did try a search of the forums, but didn't come up with anything.

My alternative option is to keep a second laptop devoted purely to this Windows Software (Not desired - Would prefer not to have a windows installation if possible)

Thanks for your consideration and any advice.

Best Regards

 

[KGIII]

I have recently installed Linux Mint 22.2 64 Deb

This confuses me.

There's Linux Mint, which would have a version like that. There's Linux Mint Cinnamon, for example.

Then, there's Linux Mint Debian Edition (normally called LMDE), which would currently be on version 7.

There's no '64 Deb' involved in this.

Can you make that clearer? It may help us address your problems better.

You're likely looking for "WINE", which is the most commonly used tool to run Windows software on Linux. You can also use Windows in a virtual machine (VM). There are a number of VM solutions out there. As a new user, VirtualBox would be my recommendation.

 

[TroyLinux]

This confuses me.

There's Linux Mint, which would have a version like that. There's Linux Mint Cinnamon, for example.

Then, there's Linux Mint Debian Edition (normally called LMDE), which would currently be on version 7.

There's no '64 Deb' involved in this.

Can you make that clearer? It may help us address your problems better.

You're likely looking for "WINE", which is the most commonly used tool to run Windows software on Linux. You can also use Windows in a virtual machine (VM). There are a number of VM solutions out there. As a new user, VirtualBox would be my recommendation.

Linux Mint Cinnamon 22.2
Updated

 

[Brickwizard]

the way in which you set up your machine is very much your choice, Multi booting with windows on a separate partition [if your HDD has room ha some advantages in you know it will run those special works programs, the disadvantage is that you have to re-boot to change between them, Running windows in a VM/VB as a guest takes up less disc space, will run most windows software, you can jump between systems without having to re-boot. or my favourite is to put the windows in a USB connected spare drive it has the same advantages / disadvantages as multiboot, if the machines you're dumping have an SSD you could grab one and only need a cable [if like many chrome books, and have eMMC then you can purchase a new or re-use 65mm ssd for not a lot of dosh

 

[TroyLinux]

the way in which you set up your machine is very much your choice, Multi booting with windows on a separate partition [if your HDD has room ha some advantages in you know it will run those special works programs, the disadvantage is that you have to re-boot to change between them, Running windows in a VM/VB as a guest takes up less disc space, will run most windows software, you can jump between systems without having to re-boot. or my favourite is to put the windows in a USB connected spare drive it has the same advantages / disadvantages as multiboot, if the machines you're dumping have an SSD you could grab one and only need a cable [if like many chrome books, and have eMMC then you can purchase a new or re-use 65mm ssd for not a lot of dosh

Thanks, brick wizard,
I didn’t quite fully understand your response. Are you saying I could put the windows operating system on an external hard drive and run the windows environment and software from there?

Also, what do you mean by run windows in a VM/VB? I haven’t heard of these times before. Does this mean to create a Windows like environment within Linux? And run the software within that?

Are you able to point me in the direction of how to set these options up? I think one of them is preferable to a dual boot or keeping a second laptop with windows on it.

I very much appreciate your assistance.

Best regards

 

[Brickwizard]

I didn’t quite fully understand your response. Are you saying I could put the windows operating system on an external hard drive and run the windows environment and software from there?

yes, i do it all the time [but just not windows] as the first part of my post, doing this you can only boot one or the other take your external drive and connect to laptop/Chromebook and connect it [preferably to a USB3 port with a USB cl3 adaptor cable] switch on the machine and open the short boot menu by jiggling the short boot key [example F12 for Dell] this should open the boot menu, select your drive and open.
If the external drive doesn't show in the menu, then open the BIOS/UEFI and make sure boot from USB is enabled

Also, what do you mean by run windows in a VM/VB

Sorry, i'm an old man using stock terms virtual machine or virtual box [they are basically the same] and are a compatibility layer] I won't recommend any particular one as it's personal choice, to learn more search "virtual machines in Linux"
for multi booting, see below

Mastering Linux Multibooting: A Comprehensive Guide

Multibooting refers to the ability of a single computer system to boot into different operating systems. In the context of Linux, multibooting allows users to have multiple Linux distributions or even combine Linux with other operating systems like Windows on the same machine. This flexibility...

linuxvox.com

 

[MikeWalsh]

@TroyLinux :-

A "VM" refers to a 'virtual machine'. It's an environment that permits running one operating system within another at the same time. The OS that runs the VM is referred-to as the 'host'; the OS running inside the VM is commonly referred-to as the 'guest'.

It does rely on your CPU having the now fairly standard 'virtualization' instruction sets. Most have these nowadays, as VMs are a popular way of doing what you're considering doing.

WINE is a sandboxed, containerised real-time Windows environment that runs within Linux, and 'translates' the Windows system-calls into the POSIX-based ones that Linux uses, "on-the-fly", as they happen.


Mike.

 

[f33dm3bits]

Also, what do you mean by run windows in a VM/VB? I haven’t heard of these times before. Does this mean to create a Windows like environment within Linux? And run the software within that?

Yeah that can work depending on what software you want to use, if it's not a complicated piece of software from a company who go out of their way to make it hard for Linux than you could probably run it in Wine or something like Bottles.

 

[TroyLinux]

@TroyLinux :-

A "VM" refers to a 'virtual machine'. It's an environment that permits running one operating system within another at the same time. The OS that runs the VM is referred-to as the 'host'; the OS running inside the VM is commonly referred-to as the 'guest'.

It does rely on your CPU having the now fairly standard 'virtualization' instruction sets. Most have these nowadays, as VMs are a popular way of doing what you're considering doing.

WINE is a sandboxed, containerised real-time Windows environment that runs within Linux, and 'translates' the Windows system-calls into the POSIX-based ones that Linux uses, "on-the-fly", as they happen.


Mike.

Thanks a bunch Mike

So Linux is the Host, and Wine is the VM / Guest, then I run this Windows software inside the guest?

I found "Wine" in Flathub and will install that shortly.

How would I install the Windows software onto my Linux machine then?
Is it easy to boot it up in Wine?

Thanks for helping a New User understand another world.

 

[TroyLinux]

Yeah that can work depending on what software you want to use, if it's not a complicated piece of software from a company who go out of their way to make it hard for Linux than you could probably run it in Wine or something like Bottles.

It's Web Plus X8 by Serif - Discontinued in 2017. Older software so I'm hoping it will work and not be too complex.

 

[f33dm3bits]

I found "Wine" in Flathub and will install that shortly.

You will probably have an easier time with Bottles, it's also available on Flathub.

 

[TroyLinux]

You will probably have an easier time with Bottles, it's also available on Flathub.

When you say "easier time" do you mean it's faster / less gitchy / other????

 

[Brickwizard]

check to make sure your windows programs are 64 bit, if not then before installing wine you will need to install 32 bit codecs [for Debian based distributions .. sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386 ]

 

[f33dm3bits]

When you say "easier time" do you mean it's faster / less gitchy / other????

You will have a nice frontend/gui to work with wine.

 

[TroyLinux]

check to make sure your windows programs are 64 bit, if not then before installing wine you will need to install 32 bit codecs [for Debian based distributions .. sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386]

Good Tip Brickwizard, I'll do that