Exe file on mac. How to easily run Windows applications on Mac. Advantages of using virtual machines
Mak is beautiful from all sides. Usually people fall in love with him at first sight. However, it is worth recognizing that programs on Windows have undeniable advantages: widespread and generally accepted. It is for this reason that Mac users periodically (increasingly less often, fortunately) are forced to get creative and come up with ways to run programs that only run on Windows.
Some services (bank clients and other sites that work with digital signatures) only support (!sic) Internet Explorer; they may send you 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 there are three large virtual machines: , and . The latter has already been discussed in a recent article about.
We can say for sure that if you are willing to fork out the cash, 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 launches Windows in a Mac window. Moreover, regular Win applications can be docked. 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 when choosing a virtual machine for myself, I realized that “Parallels” are currently head and shoulders ahead of VMware and, in general, there is no special choice among virtual machines.
The only negative is, of course, the price. The program has only paid versions and the cheapest (home) will cost you (at the time of writing) 3,990 ₽
At the same time, VirtualBox is free. But installing it will require a little effort. In addition, the result in VB will not look as beautiful as in “Parallels”, because the latter was made specifically for 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 you have doubts (and you don’t have much time), then install the 14-day trial version of “Parallels” and during this time decide whether it is worth the money. If you definitely don’t have money for paid programs, then VirtualBox is the best choice. On VirtualBox, at the same time, look at articles about and, in fact, . Let us remind you that Win10 can now be easily installed without activation (with a small uncritical functionality limitation).
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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.
For MacOS you need Boot Camp Assistant and this wizard will guide you through the entire installation process. What the installation itself consists of: an additional (bootable) partition will be created on the hard drive, where Windows will be located and you can then boot the computer from it.
How to install Windows 10 via Boot Camp Assistant
You will need:
- Flash drive or external hard drive of 8GB or more (information on them will disappear, so do not use a flash drive with your dissertation)
- The Mac must be plugged into an outlet. It won't be very cool if it turns off in the middle of the process
- Requires a license for Windows 10
- Connected Internet
1. Download Windows ISO
Microsoft offers Windows ISO files for free download on its official website.
Be sure to read the list of minimum hardware requirements. If your Mac doesn't match them, then don't even try. After reading the minimum requirements, select the version ( Windows 10) press the button “ Confirm“.
Next, select the product language (for example, Russian), press the “ button again Confirm“. After this, your system will be checked for compatibility and if successful, you will see download links on the screen.
Select the version with your processor bit (in my case x64) and download the ISO file with Windows.
2. Insert a flash drive
Disconnect all USB devices from your 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 itself, so you don't need any third-party utilities. 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. Select program Boot Camp Assistant.
4. Select installation type
Select the first item “ Create a Windows 7 or later installation disc“. Second checkbox ( Download the latest Windows support software from Apple) in theory will be checked by default and cannot be turned off. But the third item can be turned on or off by default. Turn off third point ( Install Windows 7 or later). Next press “ Continue“.
5. Write Windows to a USB flash drive
Select the Windows ISO file you downloaded in the first step.
Make sure that the prepared flash drive is selected as the installation disk.
Please note that the flash drive will be formatted during the process and all data on it will be lost.
Click “ Continue“. Another window will appear asking if you are sure you want to continue, because... The flash drive will be formatted and the data will disappear. If you are sure, press “ again” Continue“.
If you are performing an operation on a MacBook, do not close the lid of the laptop. This will send the Mac to sleep and interrupt the recording process.
After everything is finished, 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.
Running the installer from a flash drive
In order to boot from a USB drive, you need to hold down the Mac boot button. ALT(a boot menu will appear, where you need to select a flash drive). Or, when booting your Mac, hold down C, then the computer will immediately boot from the flash drive.
After you boot from the flash drive, .
So, this 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 doing and who will it suit.
The main downside to this whole dual boot thing is that you won't be able to run Windows and Mac programs in parallel. Each time you switch between systems, you need to reboot and select your OS. There are benefits to this, of course, and they include greater system performance because Windows can use all of your Mac's resources.
3. Wine
Both solutions above (virtual machines and boot camp) include the installation of a full-fledged Windows with all the attendant nuances. Wine is something else. This is a “pad” 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 often happens, compromise options have a whole set of limitations and pitfalls.
That's the problem: Wine does not work with all programs. Some will launch and work great, others may throw an error while running, and others won't start at all. First, you can check program compatibility and look for the applications you need there.
And one more problem The problem is that this is not exactly a “box solution” and finishing it can cause confusion among new users.
The second problem can be simplified slightly. The WineBottler program was created for this, and we’ll talk about it.
Choose stable version, download the DMG file.
After opening the DMG file, drag Wine and WineBottler into Applications (the same as you do when installing any other software not from the App Store).
After installation, launch WineBottler and you will see a list of programs that you can install right away, such as Internet Explorer.
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, I repeat once again that not all programs will work through Wine.
Below is a video about WineBottler in broken English, in principle, everything is clear in it 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 a different method for working 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 support help if something goes wrong or you need support for some program that is not on the list.
But compared to the options presented above, CrossOver is a complete compromise and will not suit most users. Again, if you need to run various programs, then 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, we can recommend this option for highly specialized applications.
Remote access
If none of the options suggested 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. By the way, there was a topic about remote access.
All you need 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 “easy login” box on Win. And after that, you can connect to your Windows computer at any time.
Depending on , you may experience some delays and slowdowns in your work. Yes, and also, the lack of cross-support for hotkeys is a little annoying. You try to switch the language on a 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 be suitable for you!
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We have studied everything above possible options (if not everything, then write in the comments, we will add to the article). The least-evil option for most people is to install Windows in a virtual machine (option #1). The exception is for users who need Windows for gaming. Using a virtual machine allows you to open Windows programs at the same time as opening Mac applications, all without restarting the computer. And it works much more reliably than Wine. Whether you use Parallels or VirtualBox is up to you. If you don't mind paying for a boxed solution, are not a computer specialist and want to get the best results, choose Parallels. If you are “on a short leg” with a PC, have the time and desire to get confused + 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 they are the best choice for you and your tasks. Therefore, let’s go through all the options again: What do you use? Write in the comments. Also on the site: Running Windows programs on Mac: an overview of the most popular methods updated: January 25, 2018 by: admin |
Unfortunately, the vast majority of modern software does not have mac versions, although Lately This situation is starting to change a little, but the balance of the scales is still a long way off. This is due to the unfair prevalence of Windows systems (a statement from a true Mac driver 🙂). Of course, the most popular applications have versions for all operating systems, but what if you need to run a program that only has a “window” version?
Over time, every Mac user needs to run a Windows application on a Mac; there are several ways to solve this problem.
1. You can use a standard utility that allows you to install Windows as a second operating system; this method is most relevant for users who often have to resort to the services of full-fledged Windows.
2. You can also create a virtual machine that will allow you to run Windows directly from a Mac, even without rebooting the system; this solution is faster than installing Windows but quite resource-intensive; owners of basic versions of Mac will feel this especially acutely.
3. And finally, the third method, which we will consider in detail, is launching Windows applications using special software shells (emulators). In today's article we will talk about Wineskin Winery, this program has a high level of compatibility and is an ideal solution if you only need to use one or another Windows application occasionally.
Installation
1. First you need to download latest version Wineskin Winery (at the time of writing - 1.7).
2. Move the downloaded application to the folder programs and run it.
3. In the window that opens, you need to click + to install the latest version of the engine required to run Windows applications.
Now you are ready to install the windowed application.
Installing windows applications
1. Before installation, make sure that you already have the exe file of the desired application. Click “Create new blank wrapper” to create an application wrapper, then enter the name of the wrapper, we will install the PeaZip program as an example.
2. Now let's view the contents of the wrapper in finder (View wrapper in finder).
3. Run the Wineskin.app file and select install software.
4. Click “Choose setup Executable” and select the required exe file. The installation will proceed the same as in the Windows environment.
Like this in a simple way you can run Windows applications on a Mac; of course, Wineskin does not support all applications, but at the moment this is one of the most successful solutions. By the way, you can also launch Windows games in this way, if you want, you can try it. And finally, in fairness, I note that the Mac platform also has in its arsenal very useful and functional programs that are head and shoulders above similar products for other OSes. So, the need to run Windows programs on a Mac is most likely a dying problem, especially considering .
P.S. Dear friends, if this article was useful for you, don’t hesitate to press the buttons :) In the following publications, we will look at how to run Windows using Parallels desktop and how to install “windows” as a second OS on your Mac.
No matter how good Mac OS is, it is still inferior to Windows in one important thing - in quantity and variety software. Sometimes there are situations when you just can’t do without some terribly specific program for which there are no analogues in our favorite OS. What should a devout poppy grower do in this situation?
First of all, don’t get upset or scared, because there are at least three ways to solve this problem. Let's look at them one by one.
Boot Camp
It’s not for nothing that Apple is famous for its attention to users, which is why Mac OS X has a built-in program that allows you to easily and quickly install Windows on your Mac. Yes, yes, install Windows. In this case, the operating system from Microsoft will be “next to” your Mac OS (or maybe even replace it completely - but this is an extreme option for ardent haters of the Apple operating system) and in order to gain access to it you will have to restart the computer.
This method is not very convenient if you only need to run Windows programs briefly or work with several applications at the same time, only one of which is not made for Mac OS. But this method will allow you to get maximum performance from your computer or laptop and is therefore ideal for running resource-intensive applications. Such as, for example, games.
In order to use this method, you will need little: just a windows disk. The installation is as simple and straightforward as possible: you need to launch the Boot Camp Assistant, which is located at , after which you will be asked to set the amount of disk space that you will give to Windows. After which you will be asked to insert the Windows CD into the drive and you will proceed with the normal installation of this operating system. It’s very nice that Boot Camp Assistant will download and install all the necessary drivers. After which you only need to reboot and now, you are already working in the good old (or not so good) Windows.
Pros:
- All applications will launch
- Maximum performance
Minuses:
- Need to reboot
Virtual Box - virtual machine
A virtual machine is a kind of computer inside a computer. It is created (it is correct to say “emulated”) using special software. This method is good because it does not require reboots, however, it also has certain pitfalls: your computer will have to simultaneously support two operating systems, so the speed of both may noticeably decrease.
There are several for Mac OS X virtual machines. These are paid VMware Fusion, Parallels Desktop and free Virtual Box. There are actually more, but these three are the main ones.
The Windows installation process for any of the listed programs is approximately similar. We will consider the option with free Virtual Box. First, let's create a new virtual machine. To do this, you need to launch Virtual Box and click the New button. Next, you need to enter the name of the virtual machine and indicate which OS you want to install there. After that, on one of the screens you will be asked to set the amount of RAM that you want to give to the guest system. Another sticky point can be specifying the maximum size of the data file that your virtual machine will use - this file will be its hard drive.
After the setup is completed, we will see the created virtual machine in the main program window. In order to install Windows there, you need to run it for the first time. Then, using a convenient wizard, specify where the installation will be made from (either a disk with a recorded OS or a disk image on a hard drive will do). After which you can install Windows the same way as on a regular computer.
Pros:
- No need to reboot
- All programs work
Minuses:
- On weak machines, the simultaneous operation of two operating systems can cause “brakes” for both
Wine
This method consists in the fact that a special emulator program runs a Windows application within itself and “translates” the commands it sends to the OS into a language understandable for Mac OS X, and translates the responses received from it into a language understandable to the program.
This approach will not require either reboots or the installation of a full-fledged Windows and works faster than the option with virtual machines - it would seem that it is free of the shortcomings that are relevant for the first two methods. However, not everything is so rosy. Unfortunately, not all programs will work correctly with this approach: some may not even start, and some may glitch during operation. However, emulator programs are constantly being improved, expanding the list of supported applications. Therefore, if the program you need is not too complicated, then you can safely try to run it in an emulator.
The two most common Windows emulation programs are CrossOver and Wine. The first is paid, and the second is distributed free of charge and migrated to us thanks to the roots of Mac OS X, which grow from Unix.
Installing Wine
We will use the free option again. To install, we will need XCode (you can download it from the Mac App Store for free) and the Mac Ports program, which can also be downloaded from the Internet for free, as well as a terminal that is already installed on your system and is located at /Programs/Utilities/.
Once you have installed XCode and MacPorts, open a terminal and type:
sudo port install wine-devel
which will install the latest version of Wine on your Mac (you will need to enter your password). Please be patient, the installation process may take quite some time.
After the installation is complete, you can safely use this program. In order to run the exe file, you need to open a terminal and write in it
wine (leave a space after this word and do not press enter)
after that, drag the file from the finder window into the terminal window (the path to the file will be inserted there) and press enter. It is important not to close the terminal window until you are finished with your program.
Pros:
- Decent program speed
- No need to reboot
Minuses:
- Not all programs will work properly
When switching from Windows to Mac OS, perhaps the most common first thought is - how will I live without my favorite Windows programs?
There are a sufficient number of ways to solve this issue and this is good news! Each method is good in its own way and there are both paid and free methods. First, you should decide whether you really want to use Win programs under Mac OS? Perhaps now you think this way, but over time, I assure you, Windows windows against the background of Mac OS will seem miserable to you and the search for alternatives will begin in order to move away from Windows systems and forget it like a terrible buggy dream.
Well, while you still don’t have such thoughts and a certain feeling of uncertainty in the selection of alternatives remains, let’s look at one of the good options for launching programs for Windows under Mac OS.
Let's take a little look at the options for Windows emulation and together we'll figure out which option is solved by the utility in the review
- Boot Camp- installs Windows as the second operating system and does not allow you to use two operating systems at the same time. This method is good because Windows uses all the computer’s resources to the maximum, in particular, it makes it possible to play.
- Installation of virtual machines Windows/Linux etc... This method allows you to run Windows in a separate window or organize it as a separate desktop. This method is good because we can use several OSes at the same time and even switch to Unity mode, which allows you to open Windows programs like regular Mac OS programs, i.e. you will have open programs on the screen, without the Windows desktop. This method is quite good and is suitable for owners of powerful computers. The disadvantages include the inability to install “heavy” 3D games, because The emulator does not fully support your video card. Same for the disadvantages this method This can be attributed to the excessively occupied space of the emulated system and the “eating up” of a certain percentage of your computer resources (RAM, processor).
- Installation of Windows emulators. This option is the most optimal if you need to constantly run some kind of non-resource-intensive program, for which there are no alternatives for Mac OS, although today emulators allow you to run “heavy” 3D games (but I have not tested this). Emulators are good because for each program they create a kind of “bottle” in which the program itself is located, as well as vital files for launching it. This method allows you to significantly save space and resources on your computer.
Today we will introduce you to the third option “Installing emulators in Windows”(later and everyone else).
There are options for paid and free emulators. Free ones usually require a lot of fiddling and figuring out how to use them. In paid ones, it all comes down to simple mouse clicks.
One of these emulators is CrossOver ($60) and is considered the best tool today!
The first huge plus of the program is support for the Russian language. You will not have any difficulties using the program and now I will show and tell you everything.
The program does not have outstanding interfaces (outwardly it reminds me of the good old one), because... You know what its main task is. After installing and launching the program in the system menu we see:
Let's try to take any example program, for example the VKMusic program for Windows. Download the installation file VKMusic_4.45.exe
Next, in the system menu, select “Configure” and “Install software”
This window opens. There is a lot in the list of supported programs. You can bother and pay attention to it. Even if the program you want to install is not in the list, you will still install it and it will work, but for this it is important to scroll down the list and in the " tab Unsupported applications" choose " Other Application"
Next, go to the “Select an installer” section.
I think comments here will be unnecessary. We simply indicate the path to the program installation file, in our case VKMusic_4.45.exe in the Finder.
pay attention to the label exe file, it is in the form of the CrossOver logo. In fact, to install the program, you could immediately click on it and it would automatically install, however, my task is to introduce you to the program so that you can navigate it.
So, you have selected the installation file. Now you can safely press the “Install” button in the very bottom right corner and CrossOver will create separate bottle and will install it into it. However! Before installation, you have the opportunity to select the axis under which the program runs (xp, win2000, etc.), as well as rename the bottle itself. To do this, go to the section “Select a bottle into which to install”
Here you choose which OS your program runs under and enter the name of the bottle.
If you have installed games before and want to store them in one bottle, then select a ready-made bottle with installed game and the program.
Is it better to create new bottles or keep everything in one?
when creating a bootle, as I wrote above, vital system files from Windows are added to it. Of course, a program that takes up 12 MB will weigh 300 megabytes, due to the added system files. If you create new bottles, they will waste the disk space of your HDD, but again, these are all minor things. I prefer not to bother and create new ones every time, so that later I can delete the unnecessary ones with peace of mind.
And here is the installation process itself:
1. A bottle is created
2. The program installation starts in the same way as on Windows. I didn’t recognize the coding of Russian words, no big deal.
Just install it like a regular Windows program. the path in this case is inside the bottle itself, there is no point in changing it.
Ready.
Now we try to launch the installed Windows programs y: 
That's all love is.
P.S
1. A shortcut to the installed Windows program is also added to “Mission Control” Mac OS and looks like a normal Mac OS application: 
2. if you need to manually change the internal program files in the boot, for example, transfer game saves to the program folder or something else, this is done simply: 
3. Where does CrossOver store bottles? 
4. Is it possible to install programs that do not have an installation?
Possible!
Switching to a Mac often comes with inconvenience and frustration for some users, who are saddened to discover that their favorite Windows programs do not have OS X versions. Additionally, some of us have to use such programs in our line of work, which forces us to use products like or even buy a Windows machine specifically for this purpose. Today we will tell you how to install applications for the Microsoft operating system on your Mac without the need for a virtual machine, an emulator, or downloading multiple operating systems.
The Wineskin application will help us solve this problem, which allows you to transfer the Wine environment to a Mac, create software packages and run programs from them. Since this environment was originally developed for, working with it is not so simple task. But we will try to explain the principle of its operation as simply and clearly as possible.
Step One: Know Your Program
Before you begin, you should make sure that there really isn't a Mac version of your program. If the application has already been adapted for OS X, then it is better to use it, and no Wineskin at a decent level can replace the native version. 
It is also highly recommended that you visit the website and inquire about the application you want. Its database contains user descriptions of thousands of Windows programs, where users share their impressions of working with applications. If the majority of users claim that a program is "garbage", then there's little point in trying to get it to work on your Mac.
Step Two: Using Wineskin Winery
First of all, you need to download and install the application. Unfortunately, the entire program interface is written in English language, so read this material carefully. 
This application allows you to create "Wrappers" that can turn your Windows software into a Mac software package. First, you need to install several engines: click on the plus icon and download a couple of the latest engines at the moment. If you want to install some very old program, then you will need a little more engines (some older offers may not be able to run on newer versions of Wine).
After installing the engines, you need to update the version of Wrapper. Next, you should create a new, empty Wrapper, which you name after the program you plan to install. For our demonstration, we use the familiar game “Mineweeper”, so we call our Wrapper “Minesweeper”. 
Step Three: Installing the Program
Once you've created the Wrapper, you'll find it in the Applications/Wineskin folder. After launching Wrapper for the first time, you will see this menu: 
If you are ready to install the application, click “Install” and you will be presented with the following options: 
If your application is portable (that is, all the files needed to run it are in a folder that you have access to), you just need to add this folder to your Wrapper. Thanks to this portability, we were able to easily get our Minesweeper to work. 
If your program requires installation, then there is also no reason to panic. Select the “Select setup executable” option, after which you will see the very familiar Windows Installer window: 
When the installation is complete, you will need to select the exe file that your package will run by default. 
And after a few manipulations, you are already launching your application: 
We hope these tips have helped you and saved you from the need to use other, more complex and sometimes costly options. Although, of course, I would like that sooner or later all applications for Windows would become available for Mac and save our precious time.
