Almost everyone has heard of Wine for Linux, where you can run Windows Applications on Linux.  Have you heard of Reverse Wine?  Meaning you can run Linux applications in Windows?  Well it’s built in to Windows Vista, and here is how to configure it!

I need to mention that the “Reverse Wine” is available only on Windows Vista Enterprise Edition.  Not on any other version.

Go to Start – Control Panel and click Programs – Programs and Features.  Depending on your view it may just be Start – Control Panel – Programs and Features. Click Turn Windows features on or off. Then a dialog box will pop up, scroll down the list until you see the option Subsystems for Unix-based Applications. Put a checkmark in the box.

Then click Ok, and it will install that feature.

There is also addon utilities and an SDK that you can download from Microsoft to add greater flexibility and performance and will include both the K Shell and the C Shell.  Download it here.

Once everything is installed click on Start – All Programs – Subsystem for Unix and you can launch the Shell of your choice by right-clicking and selecting Run As Administrator.

Tags | General, Linux, Microsoft, Windows Vista