How to Install Wine in Ubuntu
By Grant on Mar 5, 2008 in How to, Linux, Software, Windows
Are you running Ubuntu? Do you like to watch Lost online like I do? Well you can’t with Linux because the Move Network Player that ABC.com uses is only compatible with Windows based IE or Firefox. Install wine and you can install the windows based version of Firefox and watch all 4 seasons of Lost online ( other shows and windows based programs work too, but not all).
First you have to add the repository:
For 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon): Add the following repository, deb http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt gutsy main
For 7.04 (Feisty Fawn): Add the following repository, deb http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt feisty main
For 6.10 (Edgy Eft): Add the following repository, deb http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt edgy main
For 6.06(Dapper Drake): Add the following repository,deb http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt dapper main
Next add the repository key by typing the following into a terminal screen:
wget -q http://wine.budgetdedicated.com/apt/387EE263.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -
After this is done run: sudo apt-get update
Then enter:
sudo apt-get install wine
Wine is now installed.
Next you have to create the .wine directory that will house the virtual c:/. Type winecfg into a terminal line to accomplish this. Once the directory is created the wine configuration screen will appear. Here you can adjust settings such as graphics, audio and which version on windows is being emulated.
Now lets install a Windows application.
Find your application on the web and download the executable to a location on your Linux machine such as the Desktop or any folder of you choosing.
Open your terminal window and change to the directory where you saved the .exe
Type at the terminal prompt:
wine 'the name of the application plus the extension' (ie wine firefox.exe)
This will start the installation of Firefox via Wine. The installation will appear just as if you were on a Windows machine. If it asks where to install the app place it in c:/Program Files.
To run an installed program in wine you can either type in a terminal window:
wine nameofprogram.exe or type winefile
Wine file will open a file browser window that will aloow you to navigate the virtual C:/ drive. Double clicking and executable will start the app.
For More Information consult the Ubuntu Forums on this topic or click the link below.
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ThinkBlogger | Mar 5, 2008 | Reply
Ubuntu is great. I have 7.10 Gutsy on mine and I did not even have to add any repositories on mine, though I probably should to get the most updated version. Mine was available through the add/remove program menu.
Now, if only they came out with better screensavers. *sigh* lol.
Great post though
I never thought about installing the windows version of Firefox through Wine. How long does it take to load up compared to the one installed with Ubuntu?
Mike | Mar 5, 2008 | Reply
In my experience windows applications on linux run faster then they do on windows. This is certainly true of MS Office.
Grant will have to comment on FireFox performance as I haven’t tried that yet. IE 6 works great but I just use it for testing this site.
Mike
Grant | Mar 5, 2008 | Reply
Firefox loads just as fast as far as I can tell. I have only been using it for about a day now but it seems to work well.
Jeremy | May 20, 2008 | Reply
Wouldn’t it be better to write ABC and have them look at coding for linux based distros. They have a MAC version so it shouldn’t be that much of a leap for them. Even if the rest of the OSs don’t want it to linux based distros are making a ding in the computer world thanks to some great distros that allow most average users to use them. If we all write the people not designing their stuff right then it may make a difference.
grant | May 20, 2008 | Reply
Writing ABC and other services that only cater to windows users works sometimes but in the case of the Move network player, they do not plan to create a linux based player because they dont believe there are enough linux users to justify it.