Hello Everyone,

I am new to both the Linux OS and this Linux forum as well, so I hope that everyone can just bare with me a little bit.

I am excited to have made the choice to enter the world of Linux. In making this transition I am coming from using Windows XP, and with that being said I have quite a bit of software that I would like to be able to use under Linux.

I am aware that Linux has a great deal of software created to replace popular titles used on Windows and Apple based operating systems, but there are many programs that I don't want to let go.

In doing research in the past I have seen a couple of different options of how to handle this such as...
1.) Running Windows XP in a Virtual environment
2.) Using a program such as Wine HQ

However, I have not yet tried these above methods out. I don't really want to run Windows in the way that most virtual environment programs work in and Wine HQ doesn't support all programs and or newest versions of them (although this is a pretty amazing program when you think of what it is capable of).

Also just to give more information, I am currently using LinuxMint.

Now to my question, and I know there is a little bit of a line to be crossed here.

Not sure if it makes sense to anyone, but I am looking for a method of incorporating my Windows XP into Linux seemlessly to the point where you don't even know that Windows XP is running the Windows based programs.

The two general ideas I have for accomplishing this are (I know both of the ideas kind of overlap each other)...

1.) Some kind of coding that allows you to install Windows XP onto your system as well and be able to run Windows based programs under Linux but through Windows XP itself.

2.) Some kind of virtual environment where it just opens the Windows based program immediately without having to open up the virtualization of Window XP and then have to use Windows XP in a window and open the program through that.

Now I am sure that hardcore Linux users would not want Linux and Windows to touch in anyway, but I am just trying to make my transition as smooth as I can.
I also know that my above ideas may be far fetched, but I have seen some and heard of amazing things that Linux coders can do, so I figured I would see if anyone has any ideas.

I thank you all in advance for reading this and for any help that anyone can share.

you have already answered your own question. either use a VM or Wine (there is also a paid vs of Wine called CrossOver Office)

if you are wanting to move from the MS Windows world to Linux, then just move to linux and be done with it. Unless you are running some kind of business that relies on a 3rd party proprietary software, there will be some kind of application that will do what you want in Linux. it might run slightly different, but it will do what you need.

MS Office ==> Apache's OpenOffice, or LibreOffice
Intuit Quicken ==> GNUCash
etc...

p.s. welcome to LQ.

It cannot be done. Windows and Linux are different platforms. That is why Wine was created for the few people who want to use Windows programmes on Linux systems. It is an emulator, not an integrator. As lleb mentioned, if you want to switch, the best course is to make a complete transition.

All of the above.
There really are only a few options

1. VM
2. Wine
3. dual-boot
4. remote into XP box

For Linux equiv SQ, see LQ link http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/...ndows_software.

I think that Virtualbox's seamless mode is the closest thing to what you want achieve: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/ope...virtualize/757

"1.) Some kind of coding that allows you to install Windows XP onto your system as well and be able to run Windows based programs under Linux but through Windows XP itself."

Kind of the other way around, see CoLinux, it runs at the same time as xp 32 bit would. There was some other attempt that I can't remember now but colinux is maybe the most advanced.

Guess you might be able to run ReactOS instead of xp for some stuff but again within the limits of vm's.

Pretty much every other way has been covered above.

playonlinux & crossoverlinux left in above posts although they are not much efficient but I think I should mention them if we are talking about wine.

The moderator has already told the virtual machine as a solution and it is quite efficient in all manner.

If you are switching to ubuntu (A popular linux distribution) because you don't want installation and partition and all that difficult stuff, you can install ubuntu using wubi. It is easy to install and easy to remove and it gives you dual boot option just like real ubuntu installation.
But if you are tired of dual boot then go with the moderator.

But I think the best way is "install Linux software on Linux and windows software on windows" and use Linux's softwares on Linux because if you do it, you have following advantages :
1) The software runs with its full efficiency, No errors, No blocks.
2) You learn a new software.
3) 99% chances that it is free.
Richard Stallman: “Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of ‘free’ as in ‘free speech’, not as in ‘free beer’.
4) You don't support piracy that's why You are not bound by restrictive licenses of proprietary softwares.
&
5) You don't mad on Linux because software is not running.

Look at this link.
http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/...ndows_software

Hello Everyone,

First off I just want to thank you all again for all your responses, this means a lot.

Okay so somewhat as expected my options are basically VM or Wine.
As I mentioned I haven't tried these options out yet so I can't really say that they are not effective for me. (After reading most reviews on other "Wine" based products it seems most say to stick with Wine itself).

I am okay with going these routes, like I said I am just looking for a little more of a way to make the VM a little more hidden. When you think of it, the hard part seems to have already been done, which is getting the VM to run Windows within Linux, the next part is a graphical way to make it appear to be just part of Linux (not to say this is easy).

Now TobiSGD's response (thank you) is pretty interesting and it is a little closer to what I am looking for (I was not aware of this option). When you follow the link given it shows an environment where Linux windows and Windows windows are playing together, sharing the desktop.
The only weird part about it is that you have the Windows XP taskbar on top of the Linux taskbar, and in the Linux taskbar you have quite a few extra items there "virtualbox seemless", "virtualbox ose", "winxp running". Not a huge deal but it would be pretty cool if these things were hidden a little more.

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/ope...virtualize/757

I am sure Linux has it too, but a good example (little different scenario) is like in Windows when you go to open up a file you can set and or select what program you want to open that file with.
It would be cool if you could in Linux set a Windows program to open with a VM program so that it just opens up a window of that Windows program within Linux. In essence hiding the middle man that is the VM program.

I am aware that I may be restating things but with all of your responses it gives me more to work with in explaining things in different ways.

Again thank you all, all responses are appreciated and welcome.