Wine
Wine is a compatibility layer for running Windows applications on Linux. Applications are run at full speed without the need of cpu emulation. Wine does not require Microsoft Windows, however it can use native system dll files in place of its own if they are available.
Contents
installation
For specific installations...
Procedure for Installing Wine Version 9 on Mint 21.1
note: this procedure example updated 2024/2
Adding the official repository for Wine provides a newer version as opposed to the one in the Mint/Ubuntu repository. Open the Software Sources utility on your Cinnamon desktop and click on "Additional Repositories" then add the following:
deb https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/ jammy main
Mint Linux version 21.1 is called Vera but is based on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS otherwise known as Jammy Jellyfish, or simply "jammy" for the purposes of repository identification. It is important to math the base name with the correct distribution you are running.
Next step: you have to use the correct procedure to add the key to the new keyring system. This is not well documented, not even by the nerds that made it. They want us to use the new system but no one of them takes the time to document it. You can try the following from console, your mileage may vary...
sudo wget https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/Release.key sudo apt-key add Release.key
refresh the cash in the software sources or use the command "sudo apt update." If you get no critical errors then the latest wine should appear in the Software Manager. See also Mint Linux- Install Wine.
Procedure for Installing Wine Version 7 on Mint 20.1
THIS PROCEDURE HAS BEEN TESTED AND VERIFIED.
I tested this because I needed a newer version of wine than what was in Mint repository. Mint Linux 20.1 repository has Wine 5.0.3, which is too old for things such as what the Grape Juice Project requires. Therefore, just opening Synaptic Package Manager and clicking install is not going to get the job done. I used the following procedure to install Wine 7.0 on my Mint Linux 20.1 system:
Winehq can be installed in Ubuntu and Linux Mint via Wine apt repository
sudo apt-get install libgnutls30:i386 libldap-2.4-2:i386 libgpg-error0:i386 libxml2:i386 libasound2-plugins:i386 libsdl2-2.0-0:i386 libfreetype6:i386 libdbus-1-3:i386 libsqlite3-0:i386 sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386 wget -nc https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/winehq.key sudo apt-key add winehq.key
and
sudo apt-add-repository 'deb https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/ focal main'
and
sudo apt update sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-stable
after complete
wine --version wine-7.0
Repository Related Procedure (not the latest Wine)
This procedure is for Mint Linux distribution.
To use a current version of wine we do not want to go though the Software Manager in Mint. A current version of wine is available from the wine repository.
- open the "Software Sources" control panel
and click "Authentication Keys" -
At the bottom click "Download a key" and enter: https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/Release.key(** If this fails, see "add key via console below") JUST USE CONSOLE - Click "Additional repositories" choose "+Add a new repository" and enter: deb https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/ xenial main SEE NOTE BELOW FOR VERSIONS
- Click the "Update cache" button
- From console type: sudo apt install --install-recommends winehq-stable -y
- Configure: winecfg
note 1 ***: Add key via console, goto terminal and enter (instructions for step 2)
sudo wget https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/Release.key sudo apt-key add Release.key
or try the legacy method
apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv 76F1A20FF987672F
WINE REPOSITORY VERSIONS
- Mint 18.3 deb https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/ xenial main
- Mint 19.x deb https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/ bionic main
- Mint 21.x deb https://dl.winehq.org/wine-builds/ubuntu/ jammy main
configuration
To configure (or reconfigure) wine: This control panel allows you to change settings and add or remove windows components
winecfg
install windows software
With Wine installed on your linux system, you can find a directory called .wine under your user home. Look for the path:
- /home/username/.wine/drive_c
For a stand-alone exe
You will want to copy the .exe file into the following path:
- /home/username/.wine/drive_c/Program Files
This location is not required, however, it is a logical place for the executable. It is best to have the executable stored anywhere within .wine/c_drive
Once the file is place, you can right click and choose "Open With -> Wine Windows Program Loader"
To create a launcher on the desktop of X you can try this method:
- create a file with the name of the program you want to launch and use a non-standard custom file extension, I used .wsh because it will be a shell script to a wine software. Here is a sample script to launch the stand alone program AxCrypt2Go.exe
#!/bin/sh cd /home/nicole/.wine/drive_c/Program\ Files wine AxCrypt2Go.exe &
- Replace the executable in the example with one you are using and add the shell script into the .wsh file you created on the X desktop.
- Now right click on the .wsh file and choose "Open with" and "Other application"
- At the bottom in the text entry filed where you can add a custom executable path enter "/bin/sh"
- choose "Set as default" and click "Ok"
Although this is not the most elaborate way to create a desktop link to a stand alone wine executable, it does work. Other methods require 3rd party software.
For a software installer
- right-click the executable file and select Open With -> Wine Windows Program Loader.
- proceed with the installation same as in Microsoft Windows
- run the installed program, then exit
- Try to run it again. If there are errors we now need to apply any wine recommended workarounds or patches available from WineHQ
If you attempt to install any Windows application on Linux with Wine and run into a glitch you should check to see if it has been posted in the Wine application database. Here users have contributed resolutions to common glitches with workarounds for wine. Check the AppDB.
Here is a list of software that has been verified to be highly stable in wine: Platinum for Wine Version 2.0.3
Desktop and menu icons will be created by wine when the installer completes, based on your wine configuration settings. This includes icons added to the X desktop and X menu.