[wellylug] Windows on Linux

[Wood Brent]

--- Paul Johnson <pauljohnsonnz at yahoo.com.au> wrote:

> I`m currently running Mandrake Comm. 10.0 standalone
> on my desktop and have been happily exploring Linux
> and its wealth of documentation for a little while now
> but have just got a job where I need to create some
> Windows/Office stuff.  I`ve been through the adding
> Linux to a Windows machine but was wondering what were
> the procedures and  pitfalls of installing Windows on
> a Linux machine.  Is there a how to or something I can
> refer to or does anyone have a set of steps to follow.
>  I think it`s nice that microsoft have provided a how
> to remove linux and install XP but it seems to involve
> blowing Linux away completely.


Windows does like to take over. If you just wanna run a few MS Office apps,
without wrestling too much, and retaining your existing Linux setup, I suggest
Office Crossover. Well tried & tested for Mandrake, so will probably be the
simplest solution. You should still purchase an Office licence...

If Crossover doesn't support your application (they have a pretty extensive
list of supported Windows apps on the web site), you can install & run Bochs or
VMWare (the latter a commercial product). They basically create a virtual PC,
so you can install Windows on your virtual PC, then your Windows applications.
This approach has you buying a VMWare licence, and a Windows and Office, so is
a bit pricier. 

VMWare is very robust, but I've heard mixed reports about Bochs.

There are other options, like Win4Lin, but that can be fiddly, with custom
kernels, etc...

So it depends on just how much you are willing/able to fiddle to get it going
vs just install & use it, so it is pretty much a trade off for price vs
convenience.


Cheers,

  Brent Wood