Win4Lin (Windows for Linux) by NeTraverse is a fully developed, robust, and reliable 32-bit emulation of Windows 95/98 that operates under Linux. It creates an environment into which you can load your copy of Windows 98 or Windows ME. Once that is installed, Win4Lin allows you to run most Windows applications on a Linux system as well as shares files and printers. You can run both Windows 98 and Linux applications simultaneously. All files on your hard drive are available both to Linux and to Windows simultaneously. I want to use Win4Lin so that I may use Windows genealogy programs as well as other Windows applications on my Linux system.

The installation of Win4Lin had a few minor glitches. The instructions were rather generic for all versions of Linux but the commands didn’t work correctly for the KDE desktop environment on Mandrake 8.1. Luckily, the errors were minor and any experienced Linux person could quickly figure them out. I was able to completely install Win4Lin within a few minutes after the first attempt.

Win4Lin’s installation is split into three phases. In Phase 1, Win4Lin sets up an environment into which you can install Windows 98. However, it doesn’t include the Windows 98 files. You must supply a regular Windows 98 CD-ROM disk as created by Microsoft. In the second phase of installation Win4Lin asks you to insert the Windows CD-ROM disk and then installs Windows in almost the same manner as on a regular PC. I have installed Windows 98 many times on a wide variety of computers. However, I must admit that it was a bit weird this time to watch the installation screens displayed inside an X-Window in the KDE desktop environment on Linux! Nonetheless, the installation went smoothly.

The third phase of Win4Lin’s installation configures Windows for the individual user. Again, it seemed to be a normal Microsoft Windows setup. About a half hour after I began, I was using Microsoft Windows on a Linux box.

Using Win4Lin, Microsoft Windows can run inside a Linux window or it can run as a full screen application. After experimenting a bit, I found that I preferred to keep Linux set to display its desktop at 1024-by-768 pixels and then to configure Microsoft Windows to display in an 800-by-600 "window" inside of the Linux desktop.

I experimented for a while with several of the normal Windows programs that are included with the operating system. I used Notepad, Wordpad, and even played a game of Solitaire. All worked normally. Then, I opened Internet Explorer and found that it also worked as expected; I was able to connect to the Internet and display Web pages. I was able to read and write Windows floppy disks as well as read Windows CD-ROM disks. Even the SoundBlaster board worked as expected, Windows sounds were heard through the Linux system’s speakers.

In my first couple of hours of use, I could not find anything in Windows that would not work under Linux using Win4Lin. I then went on to load genealogy programs, an experience that I will describe in a separate article.

I now have the best of both worlds: a stable operating system that never crashes and allows me to run almost all programs written for use on Linux systems as well as run almost any program written for Microsoft Windows. I can even run Linux programs and Windows programs simultaneously.

Win4Lin is a commercial product that costs $79.99 when downloaded online. If you prefer, you can buy a CD-ROM copy with a printed user’s manual for $89.99. Win4Lin requires:

• An Intel Pentium-class or compatible processor recommended (limited x86 support)
• At least 64 megabytes of RAM memory
• CD-ROM drive
• Floppy drive (if your Windows installation CD is not bootable)
• 20 megabytes of disk space for Win4Lin, 40 megabytes to 135 megabytes additional disk space for system-wide Windows installation; 40 megabytes to 200 megabytes for each additional user. Additional disk space is required for applications.

• Linux® kernel 2.2.X or 2.4.X installed and running
• Microsoft Windows® 95/98 (one license per user)
• Microsoft Windows 95/98 full installation CD and boot floppy disk if the CD drive is not bootable
• X-Window System (16-bit color recommended)
• Ability to run as root and install a kernel

Win4Lin has been tested with the following Linux distributions:

• Red Hat(r) Linux® - 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, 7.0, 7.1
• Caldera(tm) OpenLinux® - 2.3
• Caldera eDesktop - 2.4
• SuSE(tm) Linux® - 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 7.0, 7.1, 7.2
• Linux-Mandrake(tm) - 7.0, 7.1, 7.2, 8.0 (although I also installed it on Mandrake release 8.1 with very minor difficulties)

In addition, Win4Lin should work with most generic Linux kernels using any of the following releases: 2.2.16, 2.2.17, 2.2.18, 2.2.19 and 2.4.3. In short, most of the popular Linux installations should work well if they have enough memory and a moderately fast Pentium-compatible processor.

For more information about Win4Lin, or to order the product, look at: www.netraverse.com/products/win4lin30/?PHPSESSID=7c426e0f93bb3da1db27c42f5c9a448c

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