I have installed and ran a few different Linux distros through the years, but wouldnt call myself able to understand more than have some understanding of what Im doing.
I have a couple of questions before I just give in and continue dual booting.
Context: I spend very little time actually tinkering with my computer, my free time goes mostly towards my racecar (will soon make sense). I like troubleshooting issues in my IT-setup, but just havent got the time to spend a week for one issue anymore. BUT - as for many other - the computer I use to tune and manage every system on the racecar wasnt apt for W11. That, and knowledge that my computer probably would run better on Linux, i decided to go that route.
I choose to doual-boot to be sure I could still wokr on the car. All that was fine. For managing the car I use two softwares that sadly have no option to download for Linux.
FTManager from Fueltech - to manage the fuel injection system.
Hardwire PDM Manager - to manage the power management ECU.
Well, ran in to two major issues.
Hardwire PDM installed nicely with the built in Wine-support apps. Starts up and seems to work fine. Except I dont understand how, or if, I can get that software to access the USB-connection for talking to the ECU.
I tried installing FTManager through Wine, installs fine, and I can see the files, but nothing happens when trying to run the exe file. Also tried Bottles in a few different ways, but I dont understand much enough to know what tweaks might help or what this problem could stem from. Also, IF I get this going, will I ever get USB-connection to work?
For now, Im dual booting. Would love to be able to only use the Linux
WINE is a compatibility layer that can allow common Windows OS applications to run on Linux.
What WINE is not, is a copy of Windows OS. Some advanced applications need the exensive or full copy of WIndows OS to function.
On WineHQ, you can try searching how compatible applications are - whether it has a platinum rating... or a garbage one.
TO this end - and also a classic car mech, myself - a Virtual Machine running a copy of Windows OS and that spec software is probably the best way to go.
Dual Booting requires a reboot to switch and - you feel like you are on Windows OS... because you are.
With the Virtual Machine, you can launch a barebones Windows OS from within your distro in its own container, and keep running what you want in your daily driver Distro, too. No rebooting, no ending tasks so you can switch.
If you want to give it a try, Steam Proton might even work.
DISCLAMER: This only applies if you have a steam account.
If you do, open steam. > Library > Add a non-steam game (bottom left corner). choose the ".exe" file and add it. It will now show up as a steam game. "XXX.exe" click the gear icon on the btootom left side of the title and go to properties. > performance. enable the compatability check-mark and select "Proton Hotfix" or the latest version. click play and see if it runs. this can sometimes work but a VM will always work better. the only plus to Proton is that it would give you better performance if it worked correctly and its a bit more "native".
Just letting you know about this. if you dont need it thats all good!
