I really dont know anything about linux. im trying to download something and when i try to open it an error comes up (There is no application installed for Windows Installer package files) I tried downloading the windows installer like i would normally but didnt help. so assume because this is linux its different. does anyone have any ideas?

Could you give more details, just detail the steps you took?

Are you trying to run/install a windows executable in Linux?

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More directly, Linux does not know what to do with Windows executables or *.msi files.

Two different worlds.

In most cases, Linux equivalents for Windows programs can be found, except when the Windows program is highly specialized or targeted towards a niche audience, such as CAD programs, medical records programs, and the like, or Windows games, whose manufacturers seldom see Linux users as a large enough market to be worth their while. They won't work exactly the same way, but they will produce comparable results, such as Open Office for MS Office and so on.

Many Windows programs, including a number of games, will run under Wine, but it's generally preferable to find native Linux programs. You can learn more about Wine here: http://www.winehq.org/

There's a good basic intro to Linux at About dot com.

Hi,

Welcome to LQ!

I suggest that you look at 'How to Ask Questions the Smart Way' so in the future your queries provide information that will aid us in diagnosis of the problem/query.

 You really did not give the forum much to work with.

Which distribution are you trying to use?
Utimate Linux Newbie Guide may help you to get some understanding.

Just a few links to aid you to gaining more understanding;



1 Linux Documentation Project

2 Rute Tutorial & Exposition

3 Linux Command Guide 

4 Bash Beginners Guide

5 Bash Reference Manual

6 Advanced Bash-Scripting Guide

7 Linux Newbie Admin Guide

8 LinuxSelfHelp

9 Linux Home Networking
10 Virtualiation- Top 10

The above links and others can be found at 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!

Ok well originally this was a windows xp computer. My fiancees father changed it to linux because that is what he prefers. I was trying to download a game and when it was finally finished i whent to open it and that error came up. so i tried to go and download what you would normally need on windows and i couldnt get it to work to save my life.

This is the error(There is no application installed for Windows Installer package files)

so i downloaded the typical windows package installer and when i downloaded it the cpu wouldnt allow me to install it. that is basically the whole story. sorry im not that computer smart about linux.

Linux is not Windows. Normally you can't run Windows apps in Linux. There may be a way to get your game running with wine, but there will be no guarantee that it works.
To help you with your problem, we need at least this information:
1. Which Linux distribution is installed on that computer?
2. Which game are you trying to run?

There is an application called Wine that allows you to run some Windows games in Linux. You can search for your game in the Wine database (AppDB) to see whether it will work: http://www.winehq.org/

In general I would recommend re-installing Windows if you are comfortable in Windows and use a lot of Windows applications. If you still want to learn about Linux, you can set up a "dual boot" so you have your choice of Windows or Linux each time you turn on the computer. (This is assuming it's you're computer--if it's your fiance's father's computer, then obviously you have to live with his choices.)

1 members found this post helpful.

I would reinstall windows xp but i just cant seem to figure out how. would you have any ideas? im using a netbook so there is no disk drive

Apart from anything else, that probably wouldn't endear you to your prospective father-in-law. Why don't you go to him for advice as you say he prefers Linux. He may well be familiar with getting Windows apps/games running under WINE.

You might get a better answer on a Windows support forum and/or from your netbook manufacturer. Depending on the model of your netbook and how Linux was installed, you may be able to restore the default Windows install from a hidden partition. If you call the manufacturer and tell them you messed up your Windows install, they may be able to help you restore the system.

alright thanks guys i will figure something out. appreciate the help

By all means give us a bit more info to work with like what machine you're working with, Linux distro and app you're wanting to install. Someone might be able to point you in the right direction. Almost definitely in fact.