How-To Geek
How to Install Windows Applications on Linux Using Crossover
This guest article was written by Syed Abbas from TNerd.com, a blog focused on technology news, tricks and tips.
Transitioning from Windows to Linux often leaves you scratching your head, wondering what software to use for common tasks. Sure, Linux has alternative software, but sometimes you just want to install a Windows application that you are used to.
For example, if you are very comfortable working on Photoshop, getting started with Gimp will take some time. In such cases installing a windows application on Linux is the only option you are left with to complete your task quickly.
Today we are going to see how to get these Windows applications running on Linux using the well known Crossover Linux software. It’s not free, but you can download a demo and try it out.
Installing CrossOver Professional
Once you have downloaded the file (install-crossover-pro-7.0.0.sh) open a terminal window go to the directory where you have downloaded install-crossover-pro-7.0.0.sh and execute the following command.
$ sh install-crossover-pro-7.0.0.sh
The following window will appear. Accept the License by clicking OK.
Once you have clicked OK the installation window will open. Enter the desired installation path and click “Begin Install” to start the installation.
After a few seconds crossover professional will be installed on your machine. If you have the registration code you can enter it by following the steps below (Registering CrossOver Professional) or if you are using this software in trial mode skip to the next section to start installing windows software.
Registering CrossOver Professional
Click Applications and select “Register and unlock this demo” under the CrossOver menu.
You will be presented with the Product Registration Window. Once you have entered your registration details your copy of CrossOver will be upgraded.
Using CrossOver Professional
Now, we’ll see how to install Windows software using Linux CrossOver Pro. Start the installation by clicking Applications->CrossOver->Install Windows Software.
As you can see in the snapshot below you can either select the software listed or you can choose to install unsupported software. I am going to install an unsupported free windows software called Xvid converter.
Select Install unsupported software and click the Next button.
Select the installation file of Xvid Converter and click Next.
Run through the regular installation process.
Make sure that you select a different directory, preferably one in your home directory. In my case it is Z:\home\vivek\untitled folder\Xvid Converter
That’s it, you have finished installing the application! You can launch by going to Applications-> Windows Applications-> Xvid Converter-> Xvid Converter.
The following screenshot shows you Xvid Converter in action:
Now you can experiment by installing different applications. If you want to uninstall any of the applications you have installed using CrossOver, go to Applications->CrossOver->Configuration.
Select the bottle in which you installed your application and click Repair/Remove. Your application will be uninstalled.
Note: We tested this application on Ubuntu 8.10.
Conclusion
Although a good number of applications are supported and can be installed, not all windows based applications can be ported to Linux using Linux CrossOver Pro. For example I couldn’t install Adobe DreamWeaver CS4 using Linux CrossOver Pro. It’s still a great product that helps you transition to using Linux.
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Editor’s Note: This is a guest review of a non-free software package, but we like this application here at How-To Geek and neither of us make any money from recommending it. We are fans of full disclosure and would never recommend something we haven’t tried ourselves.
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Comments (21)
Programmer by day, geek by night, The Geek, also known as Lowell Heddings, spends all his free time bringing you fresh geekery on a daily basis. You can follow him on Google+ if you'd like.
- Published 11/6/08
Having just gotten a free copy (thanks to falling gas prices) – this is perfectly timed. Thanks!
Should be corrected from “Linux” to “Ubuntu”. This will not be the same at all on OpenSUSE.
Great tool. I am sure there will be some one who will release a free application for Ubuntu so that every one can install Windows applications.
In my opinion I am comfortable with all the alternative applications that are there for Linux.
@JonMCC33
There are only a few minor differences, and it all has to do with the “Start” menu. People who run KDE rather than Gnome, should know where to find installed programs, and at least with prior versions of Crossover it would install correctly in KDE’s menu system (KDE 3.5.x not sure about KDE4).
Other than finding where the links to the application are, everything else functions the same no matter what distro you are using.
What’s the diference with WINE. WINE does the same and it’s a free software. Maybe crossover has a higer compatibility with windows applications, but with WINE I’ve run Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Project, not Outlook), for example.
@KaZiNadA
Crossover is WINE. ;-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine_(software)#Other_versions_of_Wine
have anyone using Dreamweaver Cs3 or 4 on ubuntu by any wine or crossover
CS3:
http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=7694
CS4:
http://appdb.winehq.org/objectManager.php?sClass=version&iId=14343
it supports upto CS2
We are very close to support for CS3 as well. We are working on CS4.
Best Wishes,
-jon parshall-
COO
CodeWeavers
can we run 3d software also like max, maya, xsi does video editing software also works?? Or is it restricted to some versions or codes.
I have been running Dreamweaver, Flash and Fireworks CS3 in Ubuntu using wine.It work in Hardy, Gusty and now intrepid. Am yet to try CS4 though.
hi every body i am new to LINUX, i installed photoshop7.0 through crossover, when i am using photoshop it is showing that “deafault system font could not be obtained” what i can do for this, any body help in this
thannks in advance…..
I’m very new to Linux, my question is do u use programs like crossover to install mothotboard drivers that come withthe motherboard or how do you do that at all?
@Lui:
crossover is for application and games. You wouldn’t need to install motherboard drivers for your computer through crossover. If you need to install drivers of that sort and its not already integrated within your OS, the search google.
on the first picture it says: cd /desktop and the other that you told us to do but when I type in what you say it says no such file or directory whats wrong and what do you mean about go to the directory where the file is?
its “cd Desktop” not “cd /desktop”
those 2 are completely different in the world of case sensitivity.
Hi! My name is happy and work as a programmer.
Question: How can I run my windows application in linux?
I created a program in windows environment and it should be run in linux environment? how? is there a freeware that i can used? thanks!
how can i get product registration details?
thanx in advance
regards!
hey! is there any other solution?
regards
How I reinstall this program ? Something happened and it crashed. Said that coudnt find bottle file in it’s own directory.Then I try to uninstall it 10 times and nothing happened. Then I dellete the folder and now I cant install it with this command !!!