WINE themes and tweaking

[pooky2483]

What's the delay in Synaptic Package Manager being updated as mine says v 1.2.3-0ubuntu1 is the latest.
If I updated it the way you explain, I wont lose any programs already installed will I.
Another Q, How can I make it look like a 'propper' Windows Desktop with program and drive icons and possibly a desktop background, basically making it run like a real version of windows. And can I run Internet Explorer on it?

What amount of stuff do I need to install to do all the above?

[BkS]

What's the delay in Synaptic Package Manager being updated as mine says v 1.2.3-0ubuntu1 is the latest.
If I updated it the way you explain, I wont lose any programs already installed will I.
Another Q, How can I make it look like a 'propper' Windows Desktop with program and drive icons and possibly a desktop background, basically making it run like a real version of windows. And can I run Internet Explorer on it?

What amount of stuff do I need to install to do all the above?

I believe I can assist you on this.

If you wish to run it like a proper desktop, then that is easily done.

Go to:

Wine > Configure Wine (If your on Gnone 2, Gnome Fallback or LXDE)

Once the window comes up you'll need to go to the "Graphics" tab. Look for an option with a tick box called "Emulate a virtual desktop"
Tick the box, and then put in whichever screen resolution you need. I would say 1024x768 would probs be best considering you need to be able to see the panel and what not. Especially if a program in WINE crashes, it's always handy to be able to access System Monitor to kill the process that crashed.

You can install themes and sort folders, etc if you go to the "Desktop Integration" tab. Although you may have to "patch" the theme files like you do in Windows normally if you wish to use custom themes. I just go with the classic since I'm not to bothered about what the windows look like haha.

[Mark Greaves (PCNetSpec)]

What's the delay in Synaptic Package Manager being updated as mine says v 1.2.3-0ubuntu1 is the latest.

Are you saying there is no wine1.3 package in your (11.10) package manager, only wine1.2 ? .. if so, make sure you have the "Universe" repository enabled.

But adding the PPA will also make wine1.3 available through Synaptic

If I updated it the way you explain, I wont lose any programs already installed will I

You *shouldn't* unless you delete the manually delete the ~/.wine directory .. but if/when uninstalling your current version, probably best to select "Mark for removal" and not "Mark for complete removal" .. even better, would be to backup your ~/.wine directory just in case:

Code: [Select]

cp -v ~/.wine ~/.wine-backup

(be aware, depending on how much stuff you have installed in WINE, this backup may be quite large .. but you can always delete it after you're sure everything went well)


I'll just add to BkS instructions that if you can't find the WINE Configuration in the menus .. you can access it by running:

Code: [Select]

wincfg

[pooky2483]

I believe I can assist you on this.

If you wish to run it like a proper desktop, then that is easily done.

Go to:

Wine > Configure Wine (If your on Gnone 2, Gnome Fallback or LXDE)

Once the window comes up you'll need to go to the "Graphics" tab. Look for an option with a tick box called "Emulate a virtual desktop"
Tick the box, and then put in whichever screen resolution you need. I would say 1024x768 would probs be best considering you need to be able to see the panel and what not. Especially if a program in WINE crashes, it's always handy to be able to access System Monitor to kill the process that crashed.

I've already done that bit a while ago.

You can install themes and sort folders, etc if you go to the "Desktop Integration" tab. Although you may have to "patch" the theme files like you do in Windows normally if you wish to use custom themes. I just go with the classic since I'm not to bothered about what the windows look like haha.

Where/how can I get themes? and how do I get icons on the Desktop? As this is all new to me, I have no idea.

[BkS]

You can get themes for both Linux & Windows at Deviantart

I've linked you to the "Themes" section, you'll need to click the appropriate category on the left-hand side.

I'm a bit confused as to which desktop we are referring too.

Are you talking about getting icons in the emulated desktop via WINE? Or your actual desktop on your Linux system?

If it's the former, then I believe it isn't possible, as the desktop emulation is for that one window only IIRC.

[pooky2483]

You can get themes for both Linux & Windows at Deviantart

I've linked you to the "Themes" section, you'll need to click the appropriate category on the left-hand side.

I'm a bit confused as to which desktop we are referring too.

Are you talking about getting icons in the emulated desktop via WINE? Or your actual desktop on your Linux system?

If it's the former, then I believe it isn't possible, as the desktop emulation is for that one window only IIRC.

The WINE Desktop.

[BkS]

I'm afraid it isn't possible, as the window for the "app" running in WINE is for one session only.

Though you could most likely email the developers and ask them add it as a feature, but I don't see why, one would want such a feature?

I thought, the move to Linux was to break away from Windoze and all it's features?

[pooky2483]

Dunno really, maybe using it as a fall-back if I cant find the same or similar program in Ubuntu

[EDIT]
Nostalgia PMSL