What's holding me back in opensuse

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#1

I guys.

I’m a new user to Linux after using windows for over 12 years. I’m an advanced windows user and so decided I would take my next learning curve in to openSUSE.

I gave downloaded and installed KDE 64bit on to my test box and have installed all drivers on my machine successfully.

I now am wanting to install some programs and applications that I’m more familliar with on windows. I have read about WINE that will mimic windows xp allowing me to install some programs. However after installing wine successfully (I think) I’m not sure how I am to install the programs I’m after.

Please could someone give me a noob guide on how to install Wine and use it successfully please as if I could do this then I would definately be able to install OS on main pc.

Also can someone talk me through package install files such as rpm’s. Where do you get them and how do you know they will work?

Cheers

#2

Please read this concepts URL: Concepts - openSUSE Please read the links in areas where you want more information.

Note there is rapid development ongoing in most Linux distributions, and if you do not specify the version of a Linux distribution (ie 10.3 ? 11.0 ? 11.1 ? 11.2 ? ) you make the life DIFFICULT for those who want to help you.

I will assume you are using 11.2 , but if you are not , I may have wasted my time trying to help … as things can change between versions.

Please note the zypper command line tool for installing applications: Zypper/Changes/11.2 - openSUSE

Note rpms are typically kept on repositories, and one typically installs rpms with software package managers. Stay away from the 1 click install, as that will cause you problems. Instead setup 4 and ONLY 4 repositories. Those are the 3 official Novell repositories: OSS, Non-OSS, and Update, and 1 non-official 3rd party repository Packman (which is the largest 3rd party). Just those 4. No others. None. NOT one. Only after you are an average to experienced user should you keep more than those 4 enabled. Now if you need an application on a 5th repository, add the 5th repository, install the application, and disable or remove the 5th repository.

Thats important. You deviate from the above at the risk of a loss of functionality and a loss of stability (unless you fully know what you are doing and fully understand what is on the repositories you are adding and what their limitations are)

There is guidance for adding those 4 here: Repositories/11.2 - openSUSE-Community Again, ONLY the 4 I mentioned (and the 1st 3 should ALREADY be in place, so you should only have to add Packman).

Then you can go to Yast > Software > Software Management and add “wine”.

Alternatively you can simply type:

su -c 'zypper install wine'

and enter root password when prompted.

Once wine is installed, … and lets assume you have an MS-Windows program called “autostitch.exe” in your /home/user/windows/panorama directory (that you created). Then you can run the program by navigating to /home/user/windows/panorma in a konsole and type

wine autostitch.exe
#3

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First, welcome to the forums and the free world.

Wine is a way to do things that cannot otherwise be done. What is it you
think cannot otherwise be done? Text editor? Jedit, gedit, kate, kwrite,
vim, etc. Graphics software? Gimp, imagemagick, kdenlive, inkscape,
picasa, etc. Development environments? Eclipse, NetBeans, kdevelop, etc.

What is it you want to do that you think you cannot?

To install something with wine run something like this usually:

wine /path/to/your/file.exe

Good luck.

On 04/23/2010 03:06 PM, NEO-BAHAMUT- wrote:
>
> I guys.
>
> I’m a new user to Linux after using windows for over 12 years. I’m an
> advanced windows user and so decided I would take my next learning curve
> in to openSUSE.
>
> I gave downloaded and installed KDE 64bit on to my test box and have
> installed all drivers on my machine successfully.
>
> I now am wanting to install some programs and applications that I’m
> more familliar with on windows. I have read about WINE that will mimic
> windows xp allowing me to install some programs. However after
> installing wine successfully (I think) I’m not sure how I am to install
> the programs I’m after.
>
> Please could someone give me a noob guide on how to install Wine and
> use it successfully please as if I could do this then I would definately
> be able to install OS on main pc.
>
> Also can someone talk me through package install files such as rpm’s.
> Where do you get them and how do you know they will work?
>
> Cheers
>
>
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#4

I would like to share my opinion about using Windows applications in Linux and openSUSE. There have been many people putting untold time into porting Windows programs in some manner to Linux. However, you will find many issues with running most Windows applications in some sort of wrapper program like Wine.

Further, any Windows applications that puts you on the internet, reads internet mail or uses disks from Windows computers are subject to Windows Viruses and worse, without the normal Windows anti-virus programs in place. My suggestions to switching over to Linux are:

  1. Maintain a dual boot computer until you no longer need it. Run Windows programs in Windows with full anti-virus support in effect.

  2. Migrate over to standard Linux programs like Firefox for Internet, Thunderbird for mail, OpenOffice for documents. Look for other programs that do what you used to do in Windows.

  3. Consider running Virtual Windows sessions under Linux where you can still use Windows and it applications when required. This may take a more powerful computer to do a good job. Does not work well with Windows & hardware tasks, but runs MS Office like a champ. You still need anti-virus software in a virtual session.

These are just my suggestions.

Thank You,

#5

I strongly agree with ab@novell.com I was in your spot a couple years back NEO and I tried to use Wine so that I could continue using executables but the most wonderful thing about the Linux community is that you aren’t alone when it comes to wanting to be able to do something in Linux you formerly did in Windows and usually you can find an opensource/free ware program that accomplishes the exact same thing you were wanting (sometimes even better) once I discovered this it was easy to let go of Windows. Also the openSUSE community is AMAZING seriously post your questions/problems and I promise someone will be there to help.

#6

If one of your top priorities is to install Windows applications via wine directly after installing a Linux distribution, then you should save some time by not installing linux at all, doesn’t make sense then.

Linux is an alternative, this goes for the OS and the applications, if you don’t want to start by at least trying to find and use those alternatives, then why bother?

If there are no alternatives (maybe because you have to use a certain application for work not available for linux), then stay with windows.

Would you buy a brand new car and then -first thing after getting it- remove the entire interior and replace it with the interior of your old car, even ripping out the seats, the steering wheel and so on?

#7

I would like to say that I do not think that using openSUSE is an all or nothing proposition. It seems right to think that if you are going to make a serious attempt to switching to Linux, then why keep playing around with Windows? However, there are good reasons to maintain a working copy of other OS’. Particularly if you have already paid for that copy. For instance, many low level updates of firmware, only exist as a Windows application. And while some updates, like doing a motherboard BIOS update can be done in DOS, how do you create a bootable copy of DOS from Linux? Also, I have one PC running Windows XP and Beyond TV for a PVR computer. You may be able to get MythTV to work with the right hardware and setup knowledge but why bother if you already have a working setup in Windows? You must understand that running Windows applications in Linux can open you up to a virus attack that does not exist under a pure Linux setup. DO not take this issue lightly when trying to make a transition to openSUSE.

Each person can certainly have his/her opinions of switching over to Linux, but a gradual switch to Linux should not be considered sacrilege. Let the experience build on you and you will begin to see why using openSUSE is the right way to go.

Thank You,