Installing exe files on mac. Installing Windows programs on mac via Wine
Mac is beautiful in every way. Usually they fall in love with him at first sight. However, it is worth recognizing that programs on Windows have undeniable advantages: prevalence and universal recognition. It is for this reason that Mac users are periodically (less and less fortunately) forced to contrive and come up with ways to run programs that only go to Windows.
Some services (bank clients and other sites that work with EDS) only support (!sic) Internet Explorer, you may be sent a file in some prehistoric format that can only be opened by a Windows program that does not have a Mac version. Be that as it may, such situations arise. And further in the article we will consider all the ways to resolve such situations and summarize in a way that suits almost everyone and always.
1. Virtual machines
Virtual machines allow you to run an entire operating system inside another operating system. On MacOS, three large virtual machines can be distinguished: Parallels, VMWare Fusion and VirtualBox. The latter has already been discussed in a recent article about.
We can say for sure that if you are ready to shell out, then Parallels is the best virtual machine of these three. Especially for beginners. You don't need to configure anything during installation (and you don't even need to download Windows) - the program will do everything itself. Parallels supports the so-called Coherence mode, which runs Windows in a Mac window. Moreover, ordinary Win-applications can be pinned to the dock. And run win-files directly from Finder. In this case, files and applications are highlighted with the Parallels logo.
I must say that I personally use Parallels. I won’t talk about VMware for the reason that while choosing a virtual machine for myself, I realized that “Parallels” are currently head and shoulders ahead of VMware and, in general, there is no particular choice among virtual machines.
The only downside is, of course, the price. The program has only paid versions and the cheapest (homemade) will cost you (at the time of writing) 3.990 ₽
At the same time, the same VirtualBox is free. But to install it will have to strain a little. In addition, the result in VB will not look as beautiful as in Parallels, because the latter was made specifically for the Mac, and VB is a cross-platform program. If you are ready to get confused and save money, then about installing Windows 8 in VirtualBox.
If in doubt (and there is not much time), then put a 14-day trial version of "Parallels" and during this time decide whether it is worth the money. If there is definitely no money for paid programs, then VirtualBox - the best choice. For VirtualBox, at the same time, look at articles about and, in fact,. Recall that Win10 can now simply be downloaded and installed without activation (with a little uncritical limitation of functionality).
2. Boot Camp
While virtual machines allow you to run Win inside a running macOS, Boot Camp allows you to install Windows directly on the Mac itself. Also known as “dual boot”, Boot Camp allows you to have a Mac and Windows on the same hard drive.
MacOS requires Boot Camp Assistant and this wizard will guide you through the entire installation process. What is the installation itself: an additional (bootable) partition will be created on the hard disk, where Windows will be located and you can then boot the computer from it.
How to install Windows 10 through Boot Camp Assistant
You will need:
- Flash drive or external hard drive 8 GB or more (information on these will disappear, so do not use a flash drive with your dissertation)
- The Mac must be plugged into an outlet. It will not be very cool if it turns off in the middle of the process
- Need a license for Windows 10
- Connected internet
1. Download Windows ISO
Microsoft on its official website offers Windows ISO files for download for free.
Be sure to read the list of minimum hardware requirements. If your poppy does not match them, then you should not even try. After reviewing the minimum requirements, select the version ( Windows 10) press the button “ Confirm“.
Next, select the language of the product (for example, Russian), press the button “ Confirm“. After that, your system will be checked for compatibility and if successful, you will see download links on the screen.
Choose the version with your processor bit depth (in my case x64) and download the ISO file with Windows.
2. Insert a flash drive
Disconnect all USB devices from the computer during installation. Insert the prepared flash drive or external hard drive.
3. Launch Boot Camp Assistant
MacOS X has a built-in BCA (Boot Camp Assistant) and it will do everything by itself, so you don't need any third-party utilities. In order to launch BCA, open Spotlight (there is a magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner of the screen, click on it), and there enter Boot Camp Assistant. Choose a program Boot Camp Assistant.
4. Select installation type
Select the first item " Create a Windows 7 installation disc or newer“. Second checkbox ( Download the latest Windows support software from Apple) in theory will be checked by default and it is impossible to turn it off. But the third item can be enabled or disabled by default. Turn off third point ( Install Windows 7 or later). Next click " Continue“.
5. Burn Windows to a flash drive
Select the Windows ISO file you downloaded in the first step.
Make sure that the prepared USB flash drive is selected as the disk for installation.
Please note that the flash drive will be formatted in the process and all data on it will be lost.
Press " Continue“. Another window will appear asking if you are sure you want to continue. the flash drive will be formatted and the data will disappear. If you are sure - click again " Continue“.
If you are doing the operation on a MacBook, do not close the laptop lid. This will put the Mac to sleep and interrupt the write process.
After everything is over, you will see the message “Windows has been saved”. Click " Exit“, unmount and disconnect the flash drive.
Congratulations, you have a windows flash drive for mac.
Run the installer from a flash drive
In order to boot from a USB drive, you need to hold down the Mac boot ALT(a boot menu will appear, where you need to select a USB flash drive). Or when booting a Mac, hold down C, then the computer will immediately boot from the USB flash drive.
After you boot from the flash drive, .
So, sir, it was a small lyrical digression on the topic of installing Windows 10 as a second system on a computer. Now let's get back to where we started: is it worth it and who will suit it.
The main downside to this whole dual boot thing is that you won't be able to run Win and Mac programs side by side. Every time you switch between systems, you need to reboot and select an OS. This has its upsides, of course, and they are more system performance, because Windows can use all the resources of your Mac.
3.Wine
Both solutions above (virtual machines and boot camp) involve installing a full-fledged Windows with all the nuances that follow. Wine is something else. This is a “shim” that allows you to run Win-programs on MacOS and Linux. In this regard, Wine is a much easier solution than installing Windows, especially if you need to use 1-2 popular programs. But as is often the case, compromise options have a whole set of limitations and pitfalls.
That's the problem: Wine does not work with all programs. Some start up and work great, others may give an error while running, and still others won't start at all. To get started, you can check the Wine software compatibility database and look for the applications you need.
And another problem lies in the fact that this is not quite a “boxed solution” and finishing can cause a form of embarrassment for new users.
The second problem can be slightly simplified. For this, the WineBottler program was created, and we'll talk about it.
choose stable version, download the DMG file.
After opening the DMG file, drag and drop Wine and WineBottler into Applications (just like you do when installing any other software not from App Store).
Once installed, launch WineBottler and you'll see a list of programs that you can install on the fly, such as Internet Explorer.
In order to run other Windows programs through Wine, download the executable files of these programs (.EXE) and run them as follows: right-click and Open -> Wine. Yes, once again I repeat that not all programs will work through Wine.
Below is a video about WineBottler in broken English, in principle, everything is clear in it and without translation
Wine is good when you need to work with 1-2 programs that are guaranteed to be compatible. If the list of programs is wide and changes regularly, then you should choose another way to work with them.
crossover
CrossOver is a paid solution that is also based on Wine.
The application offers a high-quality interface that allows you to simply enter the name of the required Windows program and it will be found and launched. Since this is commercial software, you can count on the help of a support if something goes wrong with you or you need support for some program that is not on the list.
But compared to the options above, CrossOver is a complete compromise and won't work for most users. Again, if you need to run various programs, it is much easier to do this using a virtual machine. If performance is important to you (for example, in games), then it is better to use Boot Camp. In general, with a price tag of $ 40, this option can be recommended for highly specialized applications.
Remote access
If none of the options above suits you, then why not try to deal with the problem in a different way? If you have another computer that has Windows installed, then you can use remote access to work on it from your Mac.
TeamViewer is a free and powerful remote access tool. About remote access, by the way, was.
All you have to do is choose a communication method, install it on both computers (Win and Mac), log in to your account on both machines, check the boxes for "simple login" on Win. And after that, you can connect to a Windows computer at any time.
Depending on , you may experience some delays and slowdowns in your work. Oh, and also, the lack of cross-support for hotkeys is slightly annoying. You try to switch the language on the Mac in the usual way, but instead of changing the language, all sorts of windows pop up. But on the other hand, if you need relatively fast (and free) access to Windows, then this option may suit you!
| Advantages | Flaws |
But which of these options should you choose? The option with the least number of evils for most people is installing Windows in a virtual machine (option #1). The exception is users who need Windows to play games. Using a virtual machine allows you to open Windows programs at the same time as opening Mac applications, all without restarting your computer. And it works much more reliably than Wine. Use Parallels or VirtualBox - it's up to you. If you don't mind paying for a boxed solution, you're not a computer specialist, and you want the best results, choose Parallels. If you are “on a short footing” with a PC, there is time and a desire to get confused + you want to save money - choose VirtualBox. Results:In fact, if virtual machines are the best choice for the average user, then in general, this does not mean that this is the best choice for you and your tasks. So let's go over all the options again: And what do you use? Write in the comments. |
Even the most ardent fans of OS X sometimes need to use the "enemy" Windows. The situations are different: from the need to use banking clients and corporate software to launching games. There are many ways to run applications written for Windows, using both third-party tools and Apple proprietary solutions.
Conventionally, they can be divided into three categories: a full installation of Windows, the use of virtual machines and emulators of the Windows software environment. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages, so we'll go through them all so you can choose the one that's best for you.
Installing Windows with Boot Camp
Especially for the unfortunate, unable to break all ties with Windows, Apple created the Boot Camp Assistant utility, with which you can prepare your Mac for installing Windows and, in fact, install it. In this case, a separate partition is created on the disk, allowing both operating systems to work independently of each other.
You will need 50 GB of free space and a Windows boot disk. The installation process itself is very simple, you just need to follow the prompts of the wizard and wait for the completion. After the reboot, you will have at your disposal a full-fledged version of Windows, just like on a regular PC. It remains to install the necessary applications or games - and you can use it. Learn more about requirements and supported versions.
Benefits of Boot Camp
- Performance. Since everything Mac resources uses only one OS, we get the maximum performance.
- Compatibility. Thanks to full Windows, full compatibility with any applications and games is ensured.
Disadvantages of BootCamp
- The need for a reboot. To start Windows every time you have to restart your Mac.
- Lack of integration. Windows does not support the HFS + file system, which means that it will not be possible to access OS X files from it, as well as vice versa.
Using virtual machines
This method has much in common with the previous one, but differs slightly in implementation. With it, we also get a full-fledged OS, but it is not installed on real hardware, but on a virtual one. Special software (virtual machine) emulates the hardware platform for running Windows, taking away some of the resources of the Mac, and it turns out that one OS runs inside another.
Parallels Desktop
parallels.com Perhaps the most popular virtual machine among Macs. Parallels is updated regularly, always works with current versions OS X and Windows and has additional features such as hybrid mode, when OS X and Windows interfaces are displayed simultaneously on the screen, and applications run regardless of their ownership. In addition, the program can start Windows from Boot Camp partitions, which is convenient if you need to access any applications or data without rebooting.
The disadvantage of the program is that Parallels is not free. The junior version will set you back $79.99.
VMware Fusion
vmware.com Another commercial solution for OS virtualization. The key feature of VMware Fusion is the Exchange Wizard, which allows you to transfer the entire environment from your Windows PC to a virtual machine and continue using applications already on your Mac. Installed Windows shares a clipboard with OS X, as well as access to files and network resources. Its apps are fully integrated with OS X features (Spotlight, Mission Control, Exposé). It also supports running Windows from a Boot Camp partition.
VMware Fusion costs 6,300 rubles, but before buying, you can explore its features in a free trial.
If your plans do not include additional expenses for running Windows applications, then your choice is from Oracle. Compared to paid counterparts, it has much fewer features, but it is quite suitable for simple tasks. You should not count on integration with OS X system functions, but basic things like a shared clipboard and access to network resources are available here. Free VirtualBox fully justifies all its limitations.
Benefits of virtual machines
- Simultaneous operation of two operating systems. You don't need to restart your Mac to run Windows applications.
- Sharing files. Since Windows runs inside OS X, there is no issue with filesystem support.
Disadvantages of virtual machines
- Low performance. Due to the fact that Mac resources are shared between the two operating systems, application performance is significantly slower, especially on older computers.
- Compatibility issues. Some applications (most often games) that require direct access to the hardware may not work correctly or not work at all.
Using emulators
With emulators, everything is completely different than with virtual machines and Boot Camp. Rather, they have something in common with virtual machines, only they do not emulate Windows as a whole, but only those of its software components that are necessary for the desired application to work. We will not have a full-fledged OS and access to its functions: we get a certain compatibility layer that allows you to run a Windows application directly in the OS X environment.
All emulators work on the same principle. The installation of the application is initialized through setup.exe, and then in its process the necessary launch parameters are configured and the necessary libraries are automatically loaded. After that, an application icon appears on the Launchpad, which will work in the same way as all native OS X programs.
winebottler
winebottler.kronenberg.org This emulator can turn an .EXE file into an OS X compatible application. WineBottler also allows you to automatically load some already configured Windows applications. It is completely free and compatible with OS X El Capitan.
Wineskin
Another emulator that, like the previous one, uses the Wine libraries to create ports. Compared to the previous solution, Wineskin has more settings and allows you to fine-tune the parameters. We talked about its configuration and use in detail in.
crossover
A commercial emulator whose development team has already adapted and customized many popular Windows applications and games for you. CrossOver has a friendly interface, and also eliminates the need to dig into the settings and deal with possible errors. The only negative is that it is paid. The license costs $20.95, but there is a 14-day trial period.
Advantages of emulators
- No Windows license required. Emulators run applications through a compatibility layer, so a licensed copy of the OS is not needed.
- Performance. Again, due to the savings in resources that are spent in virtual machines running full-fledged Windows, we get higher performance compared to them.
Disadvantages of emulators
- Difficulty of setting. To use Windows apps, you first need to set them up, which isn't always easy, especially with games.
- Compatibility issues. In some cases, applications (often resource-intensive) may not work correctly or not work at all.
What to choose
What is the end result to choose from such a variety? There is no single answer to this question. In each case, you need to build on your needs, but in general, the recommendations are as follows.
- boot camp suitable primarily for gamers, as well as for those users who need maximum performance and compatibility with software. We reboot the Mac - and we get a full-fledged Windows computer.
- Virtual machines help out in cases where both operating systems are needed at the same time. We sacrifice performance, but avoid reboots and get good integration.
- Emulators can only be recommended for simple tasks and infrequent use. For example, when a couple of times a month you need to use a bank client or occasionally get nostalgic in your favorite game.
Choose the most suitable option for yourself, and tell us in the comments what needs you use Windows applications on your Mac for and how you launch them.
There are many programs for Apple macOS operating systems, especially multimedia file editors and other software for designers, artists and musicians. However, some specific applications, including games, are not available for this platform, but are available for the Windows OS family. There are several ways to run Windows programs on macOS, which we want to present below.
Naturally, the executable files for "windows" on the Mac will not work on their own: the OS from Microsoft and Apple are too different. However, there are possible options working with them, namely installing Windows as a second system through Boot Camp, using a virtual machine or the Wine emulator.
Method 1: Installing Windows through Boot Camp
Initially, Apple computers worked on processors of RISC and MIPS architectures that were not hardware compatible with the x86-64 architecture, but for ten years now, MacBooks and iMacs have been using solutions from Intel, which allows you to install Windows on these machines. Moreover, the latter is supported quite officially - not so long ago, Apple began to integrate the Boot Camp tool into their desktop products, which provides the ability to install an operating system from Microsoft as a second working one. One of our authors has prepared instructions for its use, which you can read at the link below.
This option is the ideal solution to our today's task: all the hardware capabilities of the machine and the software features of Windows are available, which allows you to work without problems with all compatible programs. However, this method requires a restart of the computer, and also takes up a decent amount of space on the drive.
Method 2: Virtual machine
The next method for running EXE files on macOS is to install a virtual machine and then install one of the systems from Microsoft into it. There are several of them for Apple's OS, the best of them are presented in a separate review.
We will show how to work with this software using the Parallels Desktop program as an example.
- Download the app and install it. After completing the procedure, you will need to install a version of Windows into the environment. Two options are available - automatic, through the application itself, launched by pressing a button "Install Windows". This will load latest version"tens".
Clicking on a button "Skip" will allow you to independently install the desired version of Windows from the image.
- To automatically install the OS, click the button indicated in the previous step and wait until the program downloads, installs and configures the system on its own.
The manual option involves using free Microsoft test images, bootable flash drives, or an ISO file.
Choose the option that suits your situation and install Windows - technically, the installation procedure itself is no different from that for a regular computer.
- At the end of the procedure, you will receive a corresponding message.
By default, the environment starts in full screen mode - to reduce the window, use the combination Ctrl+Alt, then click on the minimize button in the window header.
- You can use a virtual environment - Parallels Desktop supports the integration of the host and guest OS, so you can simply drag and drop an EXE file into the application space to open it. Further manipulations with this file are no different from those for a full-fledged Windows.
ABOUT additional features We will cover Parallels Desktop in a separate article.
Parallels Desktop is one of the most powerful solutions, but the application is distributed on a paid basis, and the full version is very expensive. Luckily, it has free alternatives, albeit not as rich in features. However, it is worth bearing in mind that virtual environments may not work correctly or not work at all on hackintoshes.
Method 3: Wine
Users of systems based on the Linux kernel know the Wine program, which is a software "layer" for running Windows applications on OS with the UNIX kernel. There is also a version of this software for macOS, however, you need to keep in mind that it is not yet compatible with the latest release 10.15 Catalina at the time of writing.
- For stable operation of the application, we recommend downloading the Stable release.
You will also need to download a software component called XQuartz - without this framework, Vine will not work.
- Once downloaded, install both required components - XQuartz first.
- Once the installation is complete, navigate to the location of the EXE file. As you can replace, its icon now looks like a Vine icon - this means that the application is associated with the translator.
To run an executable file, it is now enough to double-click on it with the mouse.
- When you first start the program, the configuration will be updated, wait for it to finish.
If a message appeared in the process about the need to install additional components, we agree with each.
- After a short time, the program will be launched and ready for use.
Wine in terms of parameters is a good solution to our today's task, however, disadvantages in the form of compatibility issues prevent us from calling it ideal.
Conclusion
This concludes our guide to running EXE files on macOS. Summing up, we note that Windows installation through Boot Camp will be optimal in terms of compatibility, while Wine is in the lead in terms of ease of operation, and the option with a virtual machine occupies an intermediate position between these two.
In most cases, users of OS X are quite satisfied with the existing set of software for this system. What to do when the necessary application is developed exclusively for the more popular Windows system? There are several ways to run a Windows program on a Mac computer in an OS X environment.
There are three ways in total:
bootcamp
Boot Camp is a program included with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard that lets you install and use a compatible version of Microsoft Windows on an Intel-based Mac. (Apple)
Apple introduced BootCamp in 2006, following the Mac's switch to Intel processors. For the sake of historical fairness, we note that it was possible to run Windows applications on the Macintosh before: for this, an expensive expansion board was installed on the Macintosh. For obvious reasons, this solution was not popular.
Before creating an additional partition on the hard Mac disk, back up the contents of your computer using Time Machine, and then launch BootCamp Assistant (located in Programs - Utilities) and follow the instructions.
The solution is not ideal, but the main thing is that Mac turns into Windows computer. And this means that the system from Microsoft will work at maximum speed.
Disadvantages of BootCamp:
- Windows requires a full restart of the Mac to start. To select an operating system (OS X or Windows) during boot, press and hold the Option (Alt) key.
- Partitions (logical drives) created in Windows are not visible in OS X and vice versa. Why? Windows does not understand the HFS+ file system that OS X works with, and the latter does not work with NTFS by default. With the help of additional utilities like Tuxera NTFS, you can add NTFS compatibility (read and write) to OS X.
- BootCamp only installs certain versions of Windows. So, only Windows 8 with all its inconveniences.
BootCamp will come in when there is no need to boot two operating systems at the same time and you need maximum performance. For example, it can be useful for gamers: after working in OS X, they restarted the computer and launched their favorite game in the Windows environment.
Windows emulator
The method is only good for running one or two Windows programs in the OS X environment. This provides sufficiently high performance and there is no need to install an additional system.
With Wineskin and CrossOver, you can try to run software that is not compatible with OS X. It is to try, because such a number does not always work: even if successful, stability problems may arise.
Novice users may encounter problems, as certain knowledge is required to work with the emulator. Nothing complicated, information is easy to find on the Web, but given that there are other ways, this method cannot be called elegant.
Virtual machine
Virtual machine(VM, from English. virtual machine) is a software and/or hardware system that emulates the hardware of a certain platform (in our case, OS X) and executes programs for the target platform (Windows). (Wikipedia)
The best solution when you need two systems at the same time, or you need to switch between them frequently. For example, for developers. When you start Windows in a virtual machine, you do not need to restart your Mac, and you can simply drag and drop files from different partitions with the mouse from one window to another. In addition to Windows, you can install any modern operating system in a virtual machine, with the exception of outright exotics.
To deploy an operating system (one or more) that are not supported by Mac, you need to install a virtual machine (program) on OS X. There are enough similar programs: Parallels Desktop, Vmware Fusion and Virtual Box. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, but in any case there is plenty to choose from.
Separately, I would like to note Virtual Box from Oracle. This program has one important advantage - it is free, while competitors cost a lot of money: Parallels Desktop - from $79; Vmware Fusion - from $150. A free virtual machine has performance problems and even frequent lags are inevitable. Virtual Box is a great solution if you only need Windows for a couple of undemanding utilities.
After creating a virtual machine (installing the program and setting up the machine), you can proceed to install the system. It is important that this can be done directly from a bootable USB flash drive that is connected in a virtual machine through a virtual USB port. Also, Windows can be installed from an ISO image.
Disadvantages of virtual machines:
- Limited performance - virtual machines squeeze out a fraction of the hardware power of the Mac.
- When an external device is connected to the Mac, it is not available in the virtual machine (it is connected in a separate menu).
What to choose?
The answer to this question depends on the needs. If you need a single application, using BootCamp is not practical, as it requires a computer restart. In this case, it's easier to run Windows in an emulator. The virtual machine allows you to install different operating systems and easily switch between them − perfect option for developers creating cross-platform applications.
Well, if you need high performance (gamers), then BootCamp will be ideal.
P.S.: Some virtual machines are able to run Windows installed with BootCamp.
Although many Mac OS X users are devoted fans of the Apple platform, there are often situations when you need to open an application that exists exclusively in the Windows version.
Some Mac drivers use virtual machines from Parallels, Vmware or, in rare cases, CrossOver for this purpose. Recently, a new application was released to the Mac App Store online store, which promises transparent integration of Windows software with operating system OS X. WinOnX does not require a Windows license to be purchased for a virtual machine, allowing you to run classic .exe files on Mac computers.
The cost of WinOnX is $4.99 - quite sane money for the ability to work with "enemy" software.
How to Run Windows Programs on Mac OS X with WinOnX
Step 1: Download WinOnX from the Mac App Store for OS X 10.6 and above.
Step 2: Find your desired Windows application.
Step 3: Open this program in WinOnX and double click to install.
Now, whenever you come across a Windows utility that needs to be opened on your Mac, launch WinOnX and install it through the interface of this program.
In fact, the best way to work with operating Windows system is the purchase of a separate PC or the use of a Mac in Boot Camp mode.
While WinOnX works as promised, it does have some limitations. In this regard, if you have a Mac-version of programs, WinOnX developers strongly recommend using only them. WinOnX has severely limited support for full-screen applications, especially games. In future updates, the authors will add this mode for Snow Leopard and Lion.