WauloK’s BangRocks Blog

Run Windows Apps Seamlessly Inside Linux

You love working inside your Linux desktop, but at the most inconvenient times you’ve got to reboot into Windows—whether to open a tricky Office file, try out a Windows application, or even just play a quick game. However, with some free tools and a Windows installation disk, you can have Windows apps running right on your Linux desktop and sharing the same desktop files. It’s relatively painless, it takes only a little bit longer than a Windows XP install, and it works just like virtualizing Windows on a Mac with Parallels Coherence—except it’s free. Here’s how to set up Windows inside VirtualBox, and then get Windows apps running seamlessly inside your desktop.

Before getting started, make sure you have enough space on a hard drive for a Windows XP installation (meaning at least 5 GB) and enough memory to make two systems worthwhile.You can follow most of these steps if you want to try running Vista inside Linux, but your mileage might vary, of course (and check out this tip on making Vista’s networking work).

Handy to know!

Today I installed the NX server on my Mepis Linux box and the NX client on my Windows XP computer.

I’m going to try using the Mepis box via NX NVC to see how much I really need my Windows XP operating system. If I don’t require it much at all I might end up wiping my Windows XP computer all together and installing Mepis Linux on it. The Mepis box I’m connected to is only a Pentium III 900 with 256Mb RAM and it runs KDE very well, even via an encrypted NX VNC connection!

If you want to see some information about this, check out my post on the MepisLovers website: “Remotely accessing Mepis PC from XP“. Using the easy-to-read Wiki on the Mepis website, it took only a few minutes to get it up and running.

Asus brought out a fantastic little UMPC style laptop for under AUD$500, the “eee PC”

I am very tempted to purchase this once my credit cards have been sorted out. I’d really like a small, portable laptop to work on while mobile. I am about to embark on learning Java programming and this would be perfect to drag around in my backpack.

Technical Details

• Display -LCD Size / Type 7″ Wide / Matted -LCD Resolution 800×480 (~WVGA) -LCD Type TFT • Graphic Intel UMA • Chipset Intel Mobile Chipset Processor: Intel Mobile CPU • Memory Onboard: 512MB DDR2 • Flash / HDD: 4GB • OS Supported: Linux Preloaded (Windows XP Compatible, Drivers included)” • Audio -Hi-Definition Audio CODEC -Microphone: 1 Internal Microphone -Speakers: 2 Internal Stereo Speakers -Audio Jack - Out (3.5mm) 1 -Audio Jack - In (3.5mm) 1 • Wireless Included: 802.11 b/g • Integrated Camera: YES (0.3MP) • LAN / Connector 10/100 Mbps / RJ-45 • USB 2.0 ports: 3 • Memory Card Reader: MMC/SD(SDHC) • VGA Port: 1 (D-sub 15 pin) • Battery -Battery 4 cell (5,200 mAh) -Battery Life 3.5 hours • Power -AC Adapter Output: 9.5V, 22W -AC Adapter Input: 100-240V AC -50/60Hz universal • Weight 2.0 lbs (with Battery) • Dimensions (W x D x H) 8.86″ x 6.30″ x 0.79″ ~ 1.26″ • Warranty: 2 Year Warranty; 6 months for battery

I wonder if it gives Renee her ‘girl wood’ hehe. I went to Officeworks the other day and had a look at it and it’s really sweet. I’d even set up an account on it for Sienna to use as the keys are perfect for her sized hands, but not too cramped for people with bigger hands to use as well.

UMPCs should be around this price and not $1,300 which is really twice or more than a standard laptop. Why would you want to pay twice for something a fraction of the size?

I was going out with Catherine last night, but she changed her mind so I picked up Sienna. She’d just had a haircut and looks cute and will be cool for the summer. However, she was disappointed she could not get pink hair. hehe.

I was very tired last night so went to bed about 9pm. I woke up about 7:15am which was lucky because the council started roadworks outside my window just after 7:30am!! They had an industrial circular saw cutting into the road and damn it was loud!

We had breakfast and just before 10am got ready and went to Swimming Lessons nearby. Sienna had a great time and when we were finished she asked if we could both go swimming together at a pool. I had considered this myself the last couple of times she went swimming but we had other things on. Today we didn’t so I came home and grabbed my swimmers and we went down the road to the public pools. They had a medium sized pool for kids around Sienna’s age up to about 15yo which had two waterslides feeding into them. Sienna wanted me to go on the big one with her so I did and she enjoyed it immensely. After that, she went on it by herself.. both slides. We went and checked out other pools around and probably swam there for an hour and a half before her teeth were chattering from the wind cooling us down so we came home and had a warm shower. While we were showering I put on some spicy chicken wings and vegetables so when we hopped out it was just about ready. We ate our lunch and shortly after that my washing had stopped. I’d washed our swimmers and towels and other towels so I hung them on the line and Sienna had a rest for a couple of hours while I watched Ocean’s 13. It was okay. I still think the first remake Ocean’s 11 was much better. At least 13 was better than 12.

I munched on some peanuts I had bought a couple of weeks ago and Sienna had some when she woke up, then we had a Peter’s Drumstick icecream each and Sienna watched a couple of DVDs while waiting for my Ocean’s 13 to finish. She’s now playing Dora the Explorer online games on my Linux computer. I’m not sure yet what we will do tomorrow. Maybe check out a park or something.

I tried installing XMAME on my Linux box and it installed fine but won’t start so I will have to muck around with it some time in the future and work out what’s broken.

xorg.conf

Section "ServerLayout"

  Identifier "XFree86 Configured"

  Screen 0 "Screen0" 0 0

 #Screen 0 "ATIScreen" 0 0

 #Screen 1 "Screen1" RightOf "Screen0"

 #Option "Xinerama" "true"

 #Option "Clone" "true"

  InputDevice "Keyboard0" "CoreKeyboard"

  InputDevice "PS/2 Mouse" "CorePointer"

 #InputDevice "USB Mouse" "CorePointer"

 #InputDevice "Touchpad" "SendCoreEvents"

 #InputDevice "ALPS Touchpad" "SendCoreEvents"

 #InputDevice "Appletouch" "SendCoreEvents"

 #InputDevice "Stylus" "SendCoreEvents"

 #InputDevice "Eraser" "SendCoreEvents"

 #InputDevice "Cursor" "SendCoreEvents"

 #InputDevice "Serial Mouse" "CorePointer"

EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"

  Option "AllowMouseOpenFail" "true"

EndSection

Section "Files"

# Xorg 7.0 font paths

    FontPath    "/usr/share/fonts/X11/100dpi:unscaled"

    FontPath    "/usr/share/fonts/X11/misc:unscaled"

# Other font paths

    FontPath    "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/arphic"

    FontPath    "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/freefont"

    FontPath    "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/kochi"

    FontPath    "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/ttf-bitstream-vera"

# path to defoma fonts

    FontPath    "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"

EndSection

Section "Module"

  Load "dbe"

 #Load "dri"

  Load "extmod"

  Load "freetype"

  Load "glx"

  Load "type1"

  Load "v4l"

  Load "vbe"

EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

  Identifier "Keyboard0"

  Driver "keyboard"

  Option "CoreKeyboard"

  Option "XkbModel" "pc105"

  Option "XkbLayout" "us"

  Option "XKbOptions" ""

EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

  Identifier "Serial Mouse"

  Driver "mouse"

  Option  "Protocol" "Microsoft"

  Option  "Device" "/dev/ttyS0"

  Option  "Emulate3Buttons" "false"

  Option  "Emulate3Timeout" "70"

EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

  Identifier "Touchpad"

  Driver "synaptics"

  Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"

  Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"

  Option "LeftEdge" "1700"

  Option "RightEdge" "5300"

  Option "TopEdge" "1700"

  Option "BottomEdge" "4200"

  Option "FingerLow" "25"

  Option "FingerHigh" "30"

  Option "MaxTapTime" "180"

  Option "MaxTapMove" "220"

  Option "VertScrollDelta" "100"

  Option "HorizScrollDelta" "0"

  Option "MinSpeed" "0.09"

  Option "MaxSpeed" "0.18"

  Option "AccelFactor" "0.0015"

  Option "SHMConfig" "on"

EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

  Driver "synaptics"

  Identifier "ALPS Touchpad"

  Option "Device" "/dev/input/mouse0"

  Option "Protocol" "event"

  Option "LeftEdge" "130"

  Option "RightEdge" "840"

  Option "TopEdge" "130"

  Option "BottomEdge" "640"

  Option "FingerLow" "7"

  Option "FingerHigh" "8"

  Option "MaxTapTime" "180"

  Option "MaxTapMove" "110"

  Option "EmulateMidButtonTime" "75"

  Option "VertScrollDelta" "20"

  Option "HorizScrollDelta" "0"

  Option "MinSpeed" "0.25"

  Option "MaxSpeed" "0.50"

  Option "AccelFactor" "0.030"

  Option "EdgeMotionMinSpeed" "200"

  Option "EdgeMotionMaxSpeed" "200"

  Option "UpDownScrolling" "1"

  Option "CircularScrolling" "1"

  Option "CircScrollDelta" "0.1"

  Option "CircScrollTrigger" "2"

  Option "SHMConfig" "on"

EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

  Identifier "Appletouch"

  Driver "synaptics"

  Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"

  Option "Protocol" "auto-dev"

  Option "LeftEdge" "100"

  Option "RightEdge" "1120"

  Option "TopEdge" "50"

  Option "BottomEdge" "310"

  Option "FingerLow" "25"

  Option "FingerHigh" "30"

  Option "MaxTapMove" "220"

  Option "TapButton1" "1"

  Option "TapButton2" "3"

  Option "TapButton3" "2"

  Option "MinSpeed" "0.79"

  Option "MaxSpeed" "0.88"

  Option "AccelFactor" "0.0015"

  Option "SHMConfig" "on"

EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

  Identifier "PS/2 Mouse"

  Driver "mouse"

  Option "Protocol" "auto"

  Option "Device" "/dev/psaux"

  Option "Emulate3Buttons" "false"

  Option "Emulate3Timeout" "70"

  Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"

  Option "Buttons" "5"

EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

  Identifier "USB Mouse"

  Driver "mouse"

  Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"

  Option "Protocol" "ExplorerPS/2"

  Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"

  Option "Buttons" "5"

EndSection

Section "InputDevice"

  Identifier "Stylus"

  Driver "wacom"

  Option "Mode" "Absolute"

  Option "Type" "stylus"

  Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"

Endsection

# Settings for wacom eraser

Section "InputDevice"

  Identifier "Eraser"

  Driver "wacom"

  Option "Mode" "Absolute"

  Option "Type" "eraser"

  Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"

Endsection

# Settings for wacom cursor (mouse)

Section "InputDevice"

  Identifier "Cursor"

  Driver "wacom"

  Option "Mode" "Relative"

  Option "Type" "cursor"

  Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"

Endsection

# Studioworks 700s

#Section "Monitor"

#  Identifier "Monitor0"

#  VendorName "LG"

#  ModelName "StudioWorks 700s"

#  Option "DPMS" "true"

#  HorizSync    30.0-70.0

#  VertRefresh  75.0-160.0

# Modeline "1152x864@75" 111.72 1152 1184 1608 1640 864 880 891 908

Section "Monitor"

    Identifier "monitor0"

    VendorName "Samsung"

    ModelName "1360x768"

    HorizSync 31.5 - 100.0

    VertRefresh 59.0 - 75.0

    # Samsung 26"

    ModeLine "1360x768_60.00"     84.72  1360  1424  1568  1776   768  769  772  795

EndSection

Section "Device"

  Identifier  "Card0"

  Driver "nvidia"

  BoardName "unknown"

  Screen 0

 #Option "UseDisplayDevice" "dfp"

 #Option "MonitorLayout" "crt,crt"

 #BusID  "PCI:1:0:0"

 #Option "sw_cursor" # needed for some ati cards

 #Option "hw_cursor"

 #Option "NoAccel"

 #Option "ShowCache"

 #Option "ShadowFB"

 #Option "UseFBDev"

 #Option "Rotate"

  Option "UseInternalAGPGART" "no"

# savage special options, use with care

 #Option "NoUseBios"

 #Option "BusType" "PCI"

  Option "DmaMode" "None"

# nvidia special options, use with care

  Option "CursorShadow" "1"

  Option "CursorShadowAlpha" "63"

  Option "CursorShadowYOffset" "2"

  Option "CursorShadowXOffset" "4"

  Option "FlatPanelProperties" "Scaling = native"

  Option "NoLogo" "true"

  Option "UseEDID" "true"

  Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "true"

  Option "RenderAccel" "true"

 #Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true"

EndSection

#Section "Device"

#  Identifier  "Card1"

#  Driver "nvidia"

#  BoardName "unknown"

  #Screen 1

 #Option "MonitorLayout" "crt,crt"

 #BusID  "PCI:1:0:0"

#EndSection

# Samsung 26" TV

Section "Screen"

    Identifier "Screen0"

    Device "Card0"

    Monitor "Monitor0"

    DefaultColorDepth 24

    Subsection "Display"

        Depth 8

        Virtual 1360 768

    EndSubsection

    Subsection "Display"

        Depth 15

        Virtual 1360 768

    EndSubsection

    Subsection "Display"

        Depth 16

        Virtual 1360 768

    EndSubsection

    Subsection "Display"

        Depth 24

        Virtual 1360 768

    EndSubsection

# LG Studioworks 700s

#Section "Screen"

#  Identifier "Screen0"

#  Device "Card0"

#  Monitor "Monitor0"

#  DefaultColorDepth 24

#

#  SubSection "Display"

#  Depth 8

#  Modes "1152x864"

#  EndSubSection

#  SubSection "Display"

#  Depth 15

#  Modes "1152x864"

#  EndSubSection

#  SubSection "Display"

#  Depth 16

#  Modes "1152x864"

#  EndSubSection

#  SubSection "Display"

#  Depth 24

#  Modes "1152x864"

#  EndSubSection

#  SubSection "Display"

#  Depth 32

#  Modes "1152x864"

#  EndSubSection

  # Only the official NVIDIA driver supports twinview

  # these setting are an example

  Option "TwinView" "false"

  Option "SecondMonitorVendorName" "unknown"

  Option "SecondMonitorModelName" "unknown"

  Option "SecondMonitorHorizSync" "30-75"

  Option "SecondMonitorVertRefresh" "55-70"

 #Option "MetaModes" "1152x864, 1152x864"

  Option "TwinViewOrientation" "RightOf"

  Option "ConnectedMonitor" "dfp,dfp"

EndSection

Section "DRI"

  Mode 0666

EndSection

Section "Extensions"

  Option "Composite" "Enable"

EndSection

This is a copy of my xorg.conf (also usable as a XF86Config file). You may find it handy to reference. I pasted it on the MepisLovers.org forum to help out another Mepis user who wanted to use his Samsung TV with his Mepis computer, as I also have done.

I’ve decided to put some more geeky stuff on here. I’m happy with my Mepis install so am going to post information and creations here in the Mepis Category.

I’m starting off with a wallpaper I designed quite quickly using Paint.Net:

Click on the thumbnail to view the full sized version. It’s hosted by ImageShack because PhotoBucket want to charge me money to host anything bigger than 1024×768.