Can installing a programme change system parameters etc. ?

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Nicryc
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Can installing a programme change system parameters etc. ?

Post by Nicryc »

Hi,

I'm trying to install a Windows programme via Wine and I just want some precision before.

Can installing a programme break the computer. I mean can it changes parameters on my computer etc. ? Does it execute the programme like in a virtual machine in a separated environment or does it just launch it normally ? I don't want the programme to change any parameters or file association or even create icon in the menu and even less to install file in the normal repositories of linux programmes.

I specify that the file I'm launching via Wine is a Windows installer.

Thank you for your answers.
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dimesio
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Re: Can installing a programme change system parameters etc.

Post by dimesio »

Wine is a user-level process. It is not a sandbox. Windows apps running in it can do anything your user can do, but cannot do anything that requires sudo/root, unless you run it as sudo/root, which is not recommended.
https://wiki.winehq.org/FAQ#How_good_is ... ws_apps.3F
https://wiki.winehq.org/FAQ#Should_I_ru ... as_root.3F

Winemenubuilder will add menu items and filetype associations when you install an app in Wine. If you don't want that, disable winemenubuilder.
https://wiki.winehq.org/FAQ#How_can_I_p ... p_links.3F
froschmaterial
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Re: Can installing a programme change system parameters etc.

Post by froschmaterial »

> Can installing a programme break the computer.

Theoretically yes. Practically never. Installers for Windows programs are generally not designed with the aim to cause malicious behavior on Linux computers, they do not expect you to use Wine.

What an installer usually changes is:
- it puts program files to be installed and settings in your WINEPREFIX folder (per default it is ~/.wine). A folder you could backup in advance by saving a copy.
- at times it adds starters to the desktop and the menu which you usually could unselect. In any case you can continue to edit file associations, menu entries and delete starters on your desktop as you like. Breaking of your system is impossible that way.
- wine comes with an uninstaller that works (most of the times). In any case you could always start with a clean WINEPREFIX.
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