i use mandriva 2009 i would like to install some windows discs what is the best way to go about this.
ihave had no like with wine.
thanks

Wine is a great option. Cedega is another good option. However you have to register as a member to be able to download cedega, but you can do 1 month for like $5 and be able to download it even after your subscription expires. Gamesonlinux is still fairly new. I have heard good things about gamesonlinux but I have not had that great of success. I think my problem is I am running 64 bit Linux and most of their stuff is still 32 bit.

Note that all these options are based on wine, so you will need wine. However Cedega is very user friendly and I highly recommend it. Wine is good to, but sometimes you have to push through the troubles to figure out how to master it. Once you get it though, Wine is simple.

You might also want to look at CrossOver. This is the commercial (paid) version of WINE, and is very user-friendly.

More generally, it is better to come here with more specific questions that reflect you specific experience---for example: What exactly was your problem with WINE? Also, what specific SW do you want to install?

What disks???
and what are the programs on them ??

I just hope they are not programs that already have countless native Linux equivalents.

Well, if you need to run Windows programs, then by far the best way to do that is ... run Windows.

You can run it in a virtual machine or on some bit of cast-off hardware. (Look behind your local dumpster ... there's probably a forlorn little computer sitting there.)

But if WINE works it doesn't cost anything, unlike Window$.

WINE is free
CrossOver is cheap
The best way to run Windows SW is with Windows (unless your personal rules do not allow this)

Everyone is right......

Yep, MS software runs better with MS software. I vote dual boot.