As a new Linux user I always miss Windows for some of the applications that are not available on Linux. Booting the computer to go back to Windows just to use some specific software is a real pain. And that made me think how to install Windows programs i.e. .exe files in Linux? This task can be accomplished by the use of Wine application on Linux OS. To use this application you don’t have to be a member of a real wine club 😛

Jokes apart, Wine offers a compatibility layer that allows Linux users to run Windows application on Linux based OS.This tutorial describes the necessary steps to install a Windows application on Linux. The tutorial is based on Ubuntu but similar steps can be followed for other Linux OS as well.

1. Install Wine application on Ubuntu. You can use Synaptic Package Manager or use this command: sudo apt-get install wine
2. In this tutorial I am trying to install Rynga, a VoIP application. Download the .exe file of the application. Right click on it and choose properties. In the properties dialogue box go to the Permissions tab. In here check the  Allow executing the file as program box.
3. Now go to the open with tab and select Wine Windows program loader. Close it.
4. Now double click the .exe file and follow the usual Next-Next step as in Windows.

I wish this tutorial helped you to install Windows programs in Linux. Questions and suggestions are welcome.

P.S. Compatibility issues may be there with some applications.