I cannot open any downloads. Wine does not help.

Asked by Bob Rich

I cannot open any downloads with Ubuntu. The downloads are files from websites. These are ( I assume) all Windows based files. The archive manager on Ubuntu seems to be the default program to open these downloads and all I get are error messages saying the files are not executable. or something like that. I've installed Wine and it won't open any of these downloads either. I installed Ubuntu because my Windows XP unit was sluggish. It's faster now, but if I can't download a program, what good is it ? There must be an easy way to work around this issue. Any help would be appreciated.

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David Mawdsley (dm-madmod) said :
#1

First, I'll assume that you have Wine installed. Check this by going to Applications | Wine | Browse C: Drive If it opens and shows some folders things are okay so far. Wine can work with .exe files, but Ubuntu can't--that's why you need Wine.

Create a new folder there with right-mouse 'Create Folder' and give a name that relates to your program application you want to run. (For example: MyGame) Avoid spaces in the folder name. Spaces also cause problems in the program name itself, so rename it with the spaces removed. Windows is okay with spaces in names, but Ubuntu and other Linux distributions don't work well with them. There are work-arounds for the spaces problem, but to keep things simple, rename files and folders without spaces first to avoid later troubles.

Next find the file you're trying to run (for example: myprogram.exe) and copy and paste the program inside the folder MyGame.

Right-mouse on 'myprog.exe' in that folder and create a link. Copy the link and paste it to the computer's desktop.

Next exit from Wine.

On the desktop right-mouse on the link you just made to myprog.exe and and choose 'Open with Wine Windows Program Loader' with the left-mouse button. This should allow Wine to find and get your program working.

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Bob Rich (bobr56) said :
#2

David,
Thanks for your response. I tried Applications/Wine/Browse C: Drive. No folders opened. It opened 3 options: Add this Launcher to Panel; Add this Launcher to Desktop; and Entire Menu. When I clicked Entire Menu it gave 2 options: Add to drawer Panel, and Add this as Menu to Panel. I played around with it and couldn't figure any way to create a folder. Thanks for any additional feedback you can give me on how to proceed with this, at your convenience.
Bob

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David Mawdsley (dm-madmod) said :
#3

It sounds as if Wine isn't installed. Try System | Administration | Synaptic Package Manager. Search for Wine and then look for Wine1.2 and check the box. Mark for Installation then click the green check Apply. This should install Wine that should appear and allow the Applications | Wine | Browse C: Drive situation to work. Then pick up where the directions leave off.

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Bob Rich (bobr56) said :
#4

David,
I tried your suggestion. I found wine 1.2 in the Synaptic Package Manager. It was installed. I uninstalled it and reinstalled it. Same results. Wine was not there as per your first email. I still cannot open a download. I was searching for my question on the Ubuntu help page but I can't find it. So I am sending this message to you directly. Seems like I'm stuck. If you have any other ideas, please let me know. Thanks.

Bob Rich

On Aug 2, 2010, at 12:07 AM, David Mawdsley <email address hidden> wrote:

Your question #119661 on software-center in ubuntu changed:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+question/119661

   Status: Open => Answered

David Mawdsley proposed the following answer:
It sounds as if Wine isn't installed. Try System | Administration |
Synaptic Package Manager. Search for Wine and then look for Wine1.2 and
check the box. Mark for Installation then click the green check Apply.
This should install Wine that should appear and allow the Applications |
Wine | Browse C: Drive situation to work. Then pick up where the
directions leave off.

--
If this answers your question, please go to the following page to let us
know that it is solved:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+question/119661/+confirm?answer_id=2

If you still need help, you can reply to this email or go to the
following page to enter your feedback:
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/software-center/+question/119661

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Cameron W (cwill747) said :
#5

If you are actually downloading Windows executable, a .exe, then you can run it under wine to test it out. Open the folder containing the Windows executable, and right click on the .exe file. There should be an option to "Open with another application". Click that, and then either scroll through the list that appears to see if wine is there, or if it isn't click the "Use Custom Command" box and type in "wine". See if that works. If it doesn't, open up the terminal (Applications -> Accessories -> Terminal). Find the folder that your documents are being downloaded into. (Use the ls command to list folders, and the cd command to enter a folder. For example, to enter the Downloads folder, where your file might be, type in "cd Downloads"). Once in the folder, type in:
wine whatever_the_program_is_called.exe
and post the output here if it doesn't load.

Revision history for this message
Bob Rich (bobr56) said :
#6

Thanks David & Cameron,
Nothing solves the problem. Wine is there. When I try to download a file, it says that the file is not marked as executable. No matter which way I try to access Wine as per all your suggestions, I always get the same message. Cameron, when I tried Applications/Accessories/ Terminal there were no folders of any kind. it just says bob@bob-desktop:-$. No folders, nothing. I swear this computer is whacked out. I tried to re-install Ubuntu. It is the same. Dead end city. I'm no computer genius; I'm from the older generation; but I'm not that bad.
Seeing as how the inability to download a file of any kind would be a major obstacle to even having Ubuntu, and others don't seem to be having this issue, I can only conclude that something with my system is corrupt. I wave the white flag. I surrender. Too bad I chose the option to totally delete my prior Windows system. The thing was so sluggish and virtually unusable anyway so I guess I'm no worse off. I rely on my laptop, but I really wanted this unit to be functional as a backup. Thanks again for your efforts.

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