How to run Windows software in Linux: Everything you need to know... kinda

I usually have BricsCAD, Access, LibreOffice Writer, LibreOffice Calc, TBC, Notepad++, Peachtree, Firefox, Thunderbird, GoogleEarth, Star*Net and a handful of Windows Explorer instances open at the same time, and go back and forth between them many, many times during the day. Having to reboot in order to use software I use every day isn't a workable solution for me.

I recently installed Linux Mint as a dual boot. I do like it alot and if I could run Carlson etc. on it directly I would probably use it over windows. I tried using wine for some older Ashtech software but couldn't get it to work. Tried a few others also but they didn't work either. In fairness though I didn't spend long on it.

Can I ask why you use Debian. What reasons might make it a better choice over Linux Mint.

Actually I use LMDE, another Mint product but not based on Ubuntu. Linux Mint Debian Edition, Mate desktop.
Not quite as simple to install, but faster and more secure.
I use several vintage 2008 ThinkPads for most things, and a faster more modern laptop when I use CAD. LMDE is fast on all of them, easy, no reboot for updates. They all run 24/7 running automated backup and archive tasks in the background.

For anyone interested in trying linux without installing on your computer I recommend Linuxliveusb.

You can try many different distributions booting from a usb drive.

Totalsurv, post: 374539, member: 8202 wrote: I recently installed Linux Mint as a dual boot. I do like it alot and if I could run Carlson etc. on it directly I would probably use it over windows. I tried using wine for some older Ashtech software but couldn't get it to work. Tried a few others also but they didn't work either. In fairness though I didn't spend long on it.

Can I ask why you use Debian. What reasons might make it a better choice over Linux Mint.

did you try Play on Linux? I believe it is bundled with the base install of Linux Mint, if not it is in the software center, quick install with no reboots. I found it much more user friendly... but I don't use it, so no tips from me.
Virtual machines also work well for low demand windows applications, people are satisfied with Photoshop and the like... but AutoDesk is a pig and needs every last ounce of the hardware resources, I found it frustratingly slow... so I dual boot.
Perhaps Carlson could perform well in a Box, but again, that is not in my realm.

Mint has a great Forum, search or ask for advice there. https://forums.linuxmint.com/

a couple years ago Unetbootin was the "gold standard" for bootable USB drives, but it is no longer maintained for Linux. I believe it still works well for Windows and Apple... http://unetbootin.github.io/
Mint now comes bundled with a USB formatter and image writer, very slick and quick... I use it frequently to play with other OSs.

enjoy the freedom

Peter Ehlert, post: 374577, member: 60 wrote: did you try Play on Linux? I believe it is bundled with the base install of Linux Mint, if not it is in the software center, quick install with no reboots. I found it much more user friendly... but I don't use it, so no tips from me.
Virtual machines also work well for low demand windows applications, people are satisfied with Photoshop and the like... but AutoDesk is a pig and needs every last ounce of the hardware resources, I found it frustratingly slow... so I dual boot.
Perhaps Carlson could perform well in a Box, but again, that is not in my realm.

Mint has a great Forum, search or ask for advice there. https://forums.linuxmint.com/

a couple years ago Unetbootin was the "gold standard" for bootable USB drives, but it is no longer maintained for Linux. I believe it still works well for Windows and Apple... http://unetbootin.github.io/
Mint now comes bundled with a USB formatter and image writer, very slick and quick... I use it frequently to play with other OSs.

enjoy the freedom

Haven't tried play yet. Will check that out later. With all the privacy concerns around windows I think people will move more and more to Linux. Now if the software companies would follow suit it would be great.

Jim Frame, post: 374538, member: 10 wrote: I usually have BricsCAD, Access, LibreOffice Writer, LibreOffice Calc, TBC, Notepad++, Peachtree, Firefox, Thunderbird, GoogleEarth, Star*Net and a handful of Windows Explorer instances open at the same time, and go back and forth between them many, many times during the day. Having to reboot in order to use software I use every day isn't a workable solution for me.

Jim I think most of what you listed there will work on Linux.

Totalsurv, post: 374601, member: 8202 wrote: Jim I think most of what you listed there will work on Linux.

Not without a Windows emulator or VM. And why would I want to add another layer of software between my apps and me?

This is all very interesting. After being sidetracked by several other related & interesting posts, this is what I really am looking for. I am growing weary of microsoft & am trying to move away from it. Unfortunately, there are few, if any good surveying programs that will run on any other OS besides Windows. Hopefully, this will change but I may be retired (or worse) by that time. I know BricsCAD will run on Linux but the surveying module doesn't. I have not been able to find a survey/cad combination that runs in Linux. There are numerous shareware, free downloads that will but I know nothing about these. Does anybody know anything about these programs?
I would appreciate any recommendations for a dual boot machine or SURVEY CAD or cogo programs that run on Linux or sources of information. My nephew is a computer GURU & he tells me I don't want a VM machine. My thoughts are that survey calculations don't require a lot of computer resources. Bloatware like autocad does. I have a number of XP machines. Can I install Linux on one of these? What about a Linux machine with a windows emulator. I go back & forth between cad, cogo & Trimble software tools a lot but not much else. My current surveying workstation is a xp machine that is off line. The surveying computer I am going to buy will probably be on line but I plan to limit it's on line use. Email & on line research will be done on a different computer as that is expendable. I am trying to be semi retired & do mostly rural boundary work. I do use OPUS. I like OPUS!

GEOMETRIC, post: 378598, member: 8346 wrote: I have a number of XP machines. Can I install Linux on one of these?

absolutely. If the computer has the horsepower to run XP it will be more than ample to run 99/9% of the Linux flavors. (weird hardware is always a challenge)
there is no reason to Delete the existing OS (Operating System), Ubuntu has a noob friendly install tool to use it "alongside" your existing OS. It does the partitioning for you.

GEOMETRIC, post: 378598, member: 8346 wrote: What about a Linux machine with a windows emulator.

Yes, WINE works for many things, Play on Linux is a handy interface. It will Not work with Autocad later than Version 14... but your mileage may vary

I strongly recommend that you leave your existing Windows there, then if you need it you can just shut down and select it on reboot.
I gave up ob trying to use Linux for EVERYTHING, many softwares are crafted for Windows... I use windows for Acad, and my Garmin devices, but nothing else.

======
Most linux flavors can run Live from a DVD or USB for testing. If wifi and other basics work, install it on your hard drive ... then you update it and get the whole system. (Live systems are just a foundation)
almost all Linux flavors are "fully featured" and do not require you to hunt for drivers or applications at all, they are pre installed.

good luck

Played with Mint a few years back as a dual boot on a WIN7 laptop, liked a lot and if I wasn't trying to run surveying software, I would ditch Windows. As far as I could tell, for somebody (like a personal user) who just needed to e-mail, access the web, and word process, Mint has everything you need in one easy to install package that just works... Fast and no fuss, no muss, no other software needed.

SHG

dual boot is defiantly the way to go.
Mint is very good, but it is slower and less secure than LMDE. Mate desktop is rock solid, Cinnamon is a bit "buggy".

Hi Pete,?ÿ ?ÿ Did you ever end up finding a way to run Autocad or Carlson using Linux, Ubuntu or other non-Windows operating systems?

Thanks, Todd?ÿ

Peter Ehlert, you have an opinion on Slackware as a linux operating system?

March 9 2019
Peter:
For quite some time, I've considered using Linux. So, based on your discussions, I chose to try out Linux Mint LMDE - running from a flash drive. So far, I like it but am not too excited about Cinnamon's interface. The only problems I've had have been computer lockups with FireFox when viewing many of the news sites including Huffington Post, CNN, NY Times, Reuters, etc. In addition, some pdf files have locked up the computer. I don't know if this is caused by FireFox, Mint or ??? Perhaps it has to do with running from the flash drive?

Have you had similar problems?

How does one switch over to the Mate desktop?

Don't forget to change your clocks if your in UnStandard Time Zones!

If you are new to Linux or planning to start with Linux slackware is probably not the best distribution to start with

A distribution or distro is the "flavour" of Linux.

A lot of different distributions are started throughout the years by different communities or companies. They all have their own unique "selling"points and different target audiences.

For a starter I would recommend a distribution that is targeted towards new users. E.g Ubuntu, openSuSE, ...

Slackware has always been keen on delivering a stable and versatile distribution but installing new and extra software can be time-consuming for a novice user.

I installed Mint on a laptop that had a bad drive.  So I got another drive off another laptop and dedicated it to Mint.  So far I haven't had the problems mentioned by you.  No lockups for pdf's or Firefox.  Might be the flash drive.

Nice thread. Been looking into using linux for day to day work. Hows the progress of virtual machine for the last 5 years? Is it now a good choice to use if we dont decide to do multi boot?

?ÿ

Using terramodel and global mapper in my work flow

original post May 29, 2016
my last comment was June 23, 2016... probably that was the last time I viewed and did not see the later comments.

Things have changed, a lot.

1. Do Not Run Linux on the same machine as Windows 10.
The infamous Automatic Updates can (probably will) delete permanently your Linux partitions. Gone forever.
*if you backup your Data off machine it will be ok but you will be faced with complete reinstall. BFD, but annoying and time consuming.
** alongside Windows 7 and older is OK.

2. LMDE (and Linux Mint) have changed greatly.
LMDE has become Experimental. It is the play area for the Linux Mint developers, they do not test in-house much before they update your machine, and perhaps mess it up to the point of forcing a full reinstall.
*if you backup your Data off machine it will be ok

3. Linux Mint has a much smaller staff. Just the Leader/Owner Clem and a handful of others. Their focus is on their creation, Cinnamon Desktop.
They strive to make things "easy" for the noob and in the process remove lots of the basic security of Linux.
Not Bad, but not for me... Not suitable for the Workplace.
(Linux Mint does have Mate, but it is a truncated and castrated version of the real thing)
I dislike Cinnamon. funky, clunky, missing basic features, and not Stable.

4. I now use Debian exclusively, with the Debian Mate Desktop.
Debian has over 1,000 developers.
Mate Desktop has dozens of developers.
Combined they keep things Safe, Secure, and Stable.
...not quite as easy to initially install and configure.

4.5 Virtual Machines (there are tons of them) running in Windows or Linux have limitation and use significant resources.
Acad uses tons of resources, you need a hotrod. I found that running for Acad in a VM was just to damned slow.
Personally I don't bother.

5. in the surveying world: you have tons of hardware (it's associated software) that is propitiatory. To use it in Linux takes a ton of reverse engineering, done blind, without the knowledge of the hidden code.
Ain't Nobody Got Time For That.

SO: I recommend using Windows for your Survey/Engineering needs.
Use Linux for the non Survey stuff on a separate machine.

end of rant

?ÿ

https://cdimage.debian.org/cdimage/unofficial/non-free/cd-including-firmware/