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On 29/03/15 17:55, Neil Winchurst wrote: > I have been reading all this with interest. Meanwhile I have been > researching some more. It seems to me that the first thing you have to > do with a new sat nav is to register it. This requires me to download > and then run an exe file. Sorry, but I can't run an exe file. Download the Win10 technical preview - free as in beer, for 180 days at least if any of the previous demo lifetimes is anything to go by. Alternatively, download any other version of Windows, you'll get a limited but (relatively) generous trial period at the end of which you can trash the VM after exporting it's settings, and then spend five minutes on a scripted reinstall of a new copy importing your old settings as you go (see: Windows image deployment, sysprep, etc). Install in a VM, obviously - Virtualbox is more than good enough. Run sandboxed exes in a snapshotted instance for fun and profit. Even quicker, but not necessarily easier: just run your MS installers under wine, but that can admittedly be a bit of a trial of your patience and skills. Sometimes you Linux hippies are your own worst enemies - Linux even supplies the tools to deal effortlessly with "the enemy" so no matter how allergic you think you are to closed source proprietary code when it comes to annoying stuff like updating satnavs or using winmodems, reflashing the BIOS, etc, just roll up your sleeves and accept that there is a standard, simple and accepted method to handle this. Install Windows: virtualised, sandboxed, legal and free. I have the same issue with the numerous Apple wielding clients I reluctantly support: DMG mounting, HFS+ r/w support, etc, etc - all a massive pain in the arse under Linux. So I just hack VMWare Workstation with the unlocker binary patcher, install OS X 10.10 natively and run all the tools and tests I need virtually. Problem solved. Seriously, virtualisation is the answer to nearly every operating system incompatibility issue ever, why are we still even having this conversation? I also run OpenVMS under Qemu for example, so I don't have to post stupid questions to VMS forums about why Linux can't run my VMS applications. User: blah blah linux blah blah need to run $BINARY Sysop: virtualise it you moron User: blah blah RMS FLOSS blah blah restrictive licensing freedom Sysop: DIAF i have work to do Don't let misguided concerns about politics or licensing issues get in your way when you want to get something done with stuff you legally own: also don't needlessly handicap yourself by refusing to use the proper tools for the job. Need windows? Use windows. This is not rocket science... Cheers PS: required disclaimer - not having a go at anyone here, specifically not Neil, the original poster. Who should just install windows in a VM. -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/listfaq