How does IEs 4 Linux work
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[edit] The installation procedure
IEs4Linux downloads localized IE6 CAB files from the Microsoft site. Using cabextract we get all the files needed and copy them to a special wine folder. Some MS updates are also downloaded.
To install IE5.5 or IE5, the base IE6 installation is copied and some specific dlls are replaced. Those files are obtained from Evolt Browser Archive.
To install Flash9, we download a CAB from Adobe, parse its inf file dynamically and install everything on top of each wine.
[edit] Programs and updates installed
[edit] Default folders
IEs 4 Linux installs everything at ~/.ies4linux by default. And also creates executable files at ~/bin.
You can change these options by configuring advanced options when running IEs4Linux.
[edit] Why can’t I install IE to my default dot-wine folder?
Because IEs4Linux uses specific registry files configured specially to each IE installation. If we put these files into your dot-wine folder, we can break some of your installed software.
Anyway, if we could copy these files without any problem, there still is the 3 wine bottles question.
[edit] Why there are there 3 different wine bottles?
Because we can’t install 3 IE versions on the same “Windows installation” (like on real Windows). There would be some conflicts with the registry files.
And, this way, you can install/remove/reinstall the 3 IE versions automatically without problems.
I am currently trying to figure out how to merge the 3 wine bottles painlessly but there is no perspective.
[edit] Do I need to download everything everytime I upgrade IEs4Linux?
No. IEs4Linux is smart to download only the necessary files and save them for future use. So don’t remove them.
