Running windows aps on Mac

mitya · mitya #1 (**permalink**)

05-08-2012, 04:52 PM

I have a feeling this must be a very common question so apologies if this is repetitious of other posts and should be merged.

I am looking for a way of running Windows programs on Mac, without going to the extent of installing the entire Windows OS.

I found something called Wine Bottler but its unfortunately-named "howto" section made no sense to me whatsoever. From what I've read elsewhere, it's not for people new to this sort of thing like me.

If anyone can help me out that would be great.

Thanks in advance

mrplow · mrplow #2 (**permalink**)

05-08-2012, 04:55 PM

There's Wine that you have found or CrossOver.

Both are pretty straightforward but take a bit of reading about. But neither can run all windows apps so it really depends on what you want to run.

Raz0rEdge · Raz0rEdge #3 (**permalink**)

05-08-2012, 05:03 PM

As mrplow said, Wine is an application that can allow a good number of Windows applications to work without requiring Windows. There is a list of these applications at winehq.com that you can check out.

You should, however, first try to see if you can find a OS X native application to replace your Windows program before trying to these emulation environments. If no native application is available and Wine or other similar applications can't run the applications you want, then going with Windows in a VM is a fairly non-intrusive way of getting the applications going..

chscag · chscag #4 (**permalink**)

05-08-2012, 07:34 PM

I've had good luck with the latest version of WINE included with the WINE Bottler app. However, most of the Windows stuff I run with it is so ancient that it probably doesn't matter.

I love those old Windows games that I used to play in Windows 3.0. Remember Windows 3.0? (I'm telling my age.)

Raz0rEdge · Raz0rEdge #5 (**permalink**)

05-11-2012, 12:00 PM

I DO remember Windows 3.0, but since I had to be in DOS to get there first, most of my games were just DOS-based at that time..

Tweaking autoexec.bat and config.sys to get the right amount of EMM to load a game..WOW, those were the days..

mrplow · mrplow #6 (**permalink**)

05-11-2012, 02:00 PM

Hours spent freeing up ram to play x-wing ah those halcyon days

Raz0rEdge · Raz0rEdge #7 (**permalink**)

05-11-2012, 02:19 PM

Ahh X-Wing, a man after my own heart..

Life was great when I found QEMM..

Anyway, I think I've hijacked the thread enough..

heiko_s · heiko_s #8 (**permalink**)

05-12-2012, 06:22 PM

I prefer the wine based Wineskin, which creates a .app file that contains all necessary files. It also offers many older/different versions of wine incase your program doesn't work with the current build of wine.

I've tried WineBottler before but it didn't work quite well on my system.

mitya · mitya #9 (**permalink**)

06-09-2012, 07:44 AM

Sorry for the late reply, everyone, and thanks a lot for the info.

mrplow #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 01, 2007 Location: UK Posts: 5,397 Mac Specs: 27" iMac i7 (2011), iPhone5, iPad3, AppleTV2	05-08-2012, 04:55 PM There's Wine that you have found or CrossOver. Both are pretty straightforward but take a bit of reading about. But neither can run all windows apps so it really depends on what you want to run. External hard disk acquisition addict - but admitting the problem is the first step to a robust backup Please use the reputation system if you think you've been helped - top right of this post
	QUOTE Thanks

chscag #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 23, 2008 Location: Fort Worth, Texas Posts: 32,032 Mac Specs: 21.5" iMac 2.5 GHz i5, iPad 3rd Gen., 3 iPods	05-08-2012, 07:34 PM I've had good luck with the latest version of WINE included with the WINE Bottler app. However, most of the Windows stuff I run with it is so ancient that it probably doesn't matter. I love those old Windows games that I used to play in Windows 3.0. Remember Windows 3.0? (I'm telling my age.) Community Guidelines
	QUOTE Thanks

Raz0rEdge #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 17, 2009 Location: MA Posts: 5,854 Mac Specs: 27" i7 iMac with 16GB RAM and 1TB HDD, iPhone 3G & 4, iPod Nano 16GB, iPod Shuffle, iPad 2 16GB WiFi	05-11-2012, 12:00 PM I DO remember Windows 3.0, but since I had to be in DOS to get there first, most of my games were just DOS-based at that time.. Tweaking autoexec.bat and config.sys to get the right amount of EMM to load a game..WOW, those were the days.. -- Regards ...Ashwin Be sure to read the Community Guidelines \| The more information you provide, the better answers you get, remember GIGO.
	QUOTE Thanks

mrplow #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 01, 2007 Location: UK Posts: 5,397 Mac Specs: 27" iMac i7 (2011), iPhone5, iPad3, AppleTV2	05-11-2012, 02:00 PM Hours spent freeing up ram to play x-wing ah those halcyon days External hard disk acquisition addict - but admitting the problem is the first step to a robust backup Please use the reputation system if you think you've been helped - top right of this post
	QUOTE Thanks

Raz0rEdge #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 17, 2009 Location: MA Posts: 5,854 Mac Specs: 27" i7 iMac with 16GB RAM and 1TB HDD, iPhone 3G & 4, iPod Nano 16GB, iPod Shuffle, iPad 2 16GB WiFi	05-11-2012, 02:19 PM Ahh X-Wing, a man after my own heart.. Life was great when I found QEMM.. Anyway, I think I've hijacked the thread enough.. -- Regards ...Ashwin Be sure to read the Community Guidelines \| The more information you provide, the better answers you get, remember GIGO.
	QUOTE Thanks

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mitya #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 13, 2011 Posts: 13	05-08-2012, 04:52 PM I have a feeling this must be a very common question so apologies if this is repetitious of other posts and should be merged. I am looking for a way of running Windows programs on Mac, without going to the extent of installing the entire Windows OS. I found something called Wine Bottler but its unfortunately-named "howto" section made no sense to me whatsoever. From what I've read elsewhere, it's not for people new to this sort of thing like me. If anyone can help me out that would be great. Thanks in advance
	QUOTE Thanks

heiko_s #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 02, 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 28	05-12-2012, 06:22 PM I prefer the wine based Wineskin, which creates a .app file that contains all necessary files. It also offers many older/different versions of wine incase your program doesn't work with the current build of wine. I've tried WineBottler before but it didn't work quite well on my system. The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time. Bertrand Russell
	QUOTE Thanks

mitya #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 13, 2011 Posts: 13	06-09-2012, 07:44 AM Sorry for the late reply, everyone, and thanks a lot for the info.
	QUOTE Thanks

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