Do dual boot systems need dual instalations of programs (GIMP, Firefox etc.)
 

I have ordered a new computer, it hasnt arrived yet and I am getting all the software I will want so that I can just stick a disk in and istall it rather than having to download it all after the machine arrives.

I will be running Mandrake Linux 10.1 and Windows XP dual boot. I will be running GIMP, Firefox and possably some others, do they need separate installations for windows and linux or can they both use the same installation?

on your Mandrake linux install cd or dvd you will have linux versions of the gimp and the firefox browser and these will probably install by default, or will be available as an added package. the gimp for windows is a slightly different version as is the windows version of firefox, both these can be downloaded from the web for your windows partition

Yes, you need different versions for different operating systems. Remember, almost all programs depend on the kernel for "housekeeping" operations (memory management, file access, etc.), and the the M$ kernel is implemented differently from Linux kernels.

The kernel is also called to load a program executable file, resolve system calls, etc.

M$, Linux, and, I believe, Unix, all use different "entry points" and "call stacks," so, even with identical source code, the executable binary files will be different.

Oh, and, of course, most M$ programs are not available without paying the $.