This may seem like a really dumb question from the perspective of linux users wanting to break the bonds of windows. But I remember awhile back I saw a way to install windows 95 into linux so that one could play directx games, and user windows apps in linux. I have heard of winex but I figure since I own a copy of windows 95 and 98 I figure why not put it to use, that way programs would be able to use the windows "kernel" instead of an emulated one. I want to have direct access to hardware so VMWare is out of the question. Thanks in advance from this Linux n00b.

I don't think it can be done(installing window in linux). It would be most efficient to duel boot. Windows games play best with windows, my philosophy, is windows works better use it.

No, you cannot merge Windows and Linux.

I think maybe dual boot is the way to go afterall, therefore no compromise is required. I resisted at first, but I have all kinds of room on my harddrive.

When I first started using linux I wanted to use it exclusivly. That mindset stressed me out. Their are many reasons I will always need windows: certain software(tax, mp3 player, and software for my job) and some sights need IE to work. I was trying to print a PDF with linux but the page was cutting of, I just rebooted and used windows. It was not worth the effort to make it work with linux. I would much rather spend my time doing something else(just playing with my favorite OS). I will always use windows, but linux will always be my favorite

You can use vmware to run Windows in a window on your desktop. It works pretty much perfectly, except that you can't use 3d acceleration and you'd better have a fast cpu and lots of ram (since you're running two OSs at once). If you want to play windows games on linux then you need to use WineX.

// edit: sorry, I didn't see that you didn't want to use vmware

Win4Lin might be the closest to what you are describing although I have never used it and do not know much about it. Here is a Win4Lin link:

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1185004,00.asp

Colinux is another new possibility which I do not know much about is:

http://colinux.org/

Of course VMWare has already been mentioned and you do not want to use it but, here is an article about it. I have the Linux version of VMWare installed on my computer.

http://www.flexbeta.net/main/article...ion=show&id=47

There is also Bochs which I belive is somewhat similar to VMWare:

http://bochs.sourceforge.net/

There was also a recent announcement about something called David. Here is the link:

http://www.flexbeta.net/main/article...ion=show&id=56

Of course there is also WineX and CrossOver Office. Was any of that what you were looking for? I do not know which would offer direct access to hardware or could be used to play directx games. I have not yet tried to figure what most of the above products are about. The only ones I use are VMWare and CrossOver Office.

Win4Lin... that is what I was thinking of... I couldn't remember it to save my life... I remember reading about it about a year ago when I was playing with VMware and Virtual PC (and BOCHS... which was a real nightmare back then). Thanks for that.

If you get Win4Lin, you will not be able to play Direct3D games, neither access to the hardware directly. Tha hardware is still controled by Linux.
I have it on my PC with a Win98SE copy, and works quite good (a bit slow, but anyway good). I use it basically for M$ Office (I don't like Open Office) and Photoshop, but i'm not able to play any D3D game.