Wine to the rescue

[snakedriver]

I recently bought a HP dv9700z x84-64 laptop with Vista 64-bit OS.

I have found that even using the compatibility mode. I cannot install a number of my "old" favorite window's softwares. Not to worry, Wine to the rescue.

First, I add the Wine repro, Index of /repositories/Emulators:/Wine/openSUSE_11.0/i586, as a Yast-source.
Install the latest Wine & Wine-doors rpms.

Now let's install some windows software in openSUSE; examples:

mshearts
Go into a windows install and copy mshearts.exe to a folder in /home or /tmp
Open a terminal
cd /pathtofolder
wine mshearts.exe
It's going to likely show that you have a xxxx.dll dependency problem
go back into the windows install and copy the needed xxxx.dll(s) and place them in /home/yourname/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32
(or you can use a cabextract app & get them directly from the CD; I do not recommend downloading those from the internet because of virus dangers).

back to the terminal
"wine mshearts.exe"
Should install
Should appear as Kmenu > Wine > Programs > Hearts
If not, edit Kmenu (right click > Menu Editor)
Name: Hearts
Command: wine mshearts.exe
Work path: /home/yourname/.wine/drive_c/windows/system32

Office 2000
Frank's Corner, Running Windows applications and games on Linux
followed that guide & everything works 100%

calendar
I have a favorite calendar app called "Calendar Maker v2.5". It's very basic; creates personalized calendars (but does have some basic scheduling features), prints a clean calendar for me to mark up. It happens to be in a .msi format.

The .msi format calls for the microsoft installer. Fortunately, Wine provides it:
"Calendar Maker v2.5" comes zipped; unzip it to a folder
cd /pathtofolder
wine msiexec /i cm25inst.msi
then
Kmenu > Wine > Programs > Calendar Maker

Conclusion
The above are but examples; I have installed all my "old" windows favorites in openSUSE x86-64. Wine works.