CPS on Linux using WINE work around.

[TNFrank]

I've found a work around for those of us running our CPS's under WINE when we get the "no path found" error. I simply go into WINEcq and create a new drive then I browse to my folder with the CPS and add it to that drive. Now there's a "path" for WINE to the CPS.

Only downside is that you need to create a drive with a path for each CPS so if you have multiple radios(like I do)each needing their own CPS you'll need multiple drives.

Hope this info may help someone. 

 

[Lscott]

54 minutes ago, TNFrank said:

I've found a work around for those of us running our CPS's under WINE when we get the "no path found" error. I simply go into WINEcq and create a new drive then I browse to my folder with the CPS and add it to that drive. Now there's a "path" for WINE to the CPS.

Only downside is that you need to create a drive with a path for each CPS so if you have multiple radios(like I do)each needing their own CPS you'll need multiple drives.

Hope this info may help someone. 

 

Good info.

Now another question has anyone tried running Kenwood's "KPT-300LMC" under Wine? This is a license manager to activate newer versions of their CPS for the NX-5K and NX-3K series radios along with writing the Feature Licenses to the NX-5K, NX-3K and NX-1K radios. The NX-1K series there is a cracked version of the CPS so the license manager isn't required for that one to program, but you still need it for the feature activation.

[WRYS709]

You know you can install Windows 11 without having to pay for activation?

I haven't paid for windows since about 2005, when I purchased SoftWindows for my PPC Mac and it included Windows XP.

When Macs moved up to Intel, I sucked that licensed copy of XP out of SoftWindows and have installed it in Bootcamp and then in Parallels.

I added Windows 10 some years later and I have never had to activate it.  And then when Mac went Apple Silicon I added Windows 11.

I still run all 3 as needed given the age and history of the radios I need to program; as I rarely if ever run Windows for any other purpose.

[Lscott]

1 hour ago, WRYS709 said:

You know you can install Windows 11 without having to pay for activation?

Yeah, I have Win11 Pro, Win10 Pro, Win7 Pro, Win XP, Win 2000, Win NT, Win 98 and Win 3.1 all running in VM’s. Those that require activation its done using an activation utility. The ones with active support from MS have no issues getting updated.

 BTW Win11 sucks. I’m not a big fan of Win10 either, but it sucks less than 11. All 11 did at first install was bug me frequently about buying additional MS products and services. Took a while researching on the Web to find out where to turn off most of the annoying ad garbage. Still get some occasionally. Oh, 11 is slow compared with 10 too.

[HHD1]

35 minutes ago, Lscott said:

 BTW Win11 sucks. I’m not a big fan of Win10 either

IMO they should have stopped at 7

[TNFrank]

Why would I want to run a bloated OS like Windows(especially 11) when I can run a lightweight, Free, Open Source OS like MX-Linux with the KDE Desktop that takes about 750Mb total to run. Plus, I don't have to worry about all the malware/spyware/viruses that folks running Windows gets. No thanks, I've been running one Distro or another of GNU/Linux for almost 14 years, I'll never go back to Windows. Especially since I picked up a new computer(Trycoon WI-4 w/16Gb or RAM and a 512Mb SSD Drive. It runs like a raped ape with MX-Linux.  It would have barely been enough for Windows 11. 

[WRYS709]

17 minutes ago, TNFrank said:

Why would I want to run a bloated OS like Windows(especially 11) when I can run a lightweight, Free, Open Source OS like MX-Linux with the KDE Desktop that takes about 750Mb total to run…

Because you keep posting complaints (and workarounds) about all the problems you have with various CPS programs under your Linux setup. 

You even created this thread about it!

I never have any of the problems you experienced when I use Windows for non-Chirp wireless radio programming on my Mac.  

[TNFrank]

10 minutes ago, WRYS709 said:

Because you keep posting complaints (and workarounds) about all the problems you have with various CPS programs under your Linux setup. 

You even created this thread about it!

I never have any of the problems you experienced when I use Windows for non-Chirp wireless radio programming on my Mac.  

I had an iMac for over 10 years and when it died I wanted another one but the price, even on the lowest priced model was out of my budget. 

I've used Linux for so long now it's become 2nd nature to me. I like the total control over my OS and Linux gives me that.

[WRYS709]

1 hour ago, TNFrank said:

 …was out of my budget. 

You keep citing cost, yet Windows is free!

[WSJX263]

40 minutes ago, WRYS709 said:

You keep citing cost, yet Windows is free!

No Windows is not free. You are paying for it, when you buy a computer, or your are paying for it to install on a computer you build. Been there and done that, I know.

[TNFrank]

Ditto, you pay for running Windows in more ways than one. Have you ever read the EULA for Windows? In a nut shell you basically give MicroSoft license to install or uninstall any software they want too. So your system is no longer your own. 

Linux is 100% Free, open source so you can see the code and it's very stable and secure. That's why the International Space Station runs Debian Linux, they can't afford to have their system crash or take hours to update. 

[WRKC935]

This nonsense kills me.  

Don't get me wrong, I run Linux too.  For a number of things.  And it does SOME of those things better than anything offered by Microsoft, and for very little if ANY out of pocket cost.  But there is a cost to Linux, or any other operating system that isn't Windows.  The cost is in time.  Your personal time to figure out work a rounds to run software written to run on the operating system that is DOMINANT out there in the world.  

Hurray for you, running Linux, of any flavor as your primary desktop operating system.  But like anything else you can take things too far. Computers are a TOOL.  Like a radio, or a hammer.  But the OS gives you a range of sizes of hammers and other tools.  You gonna drive a 14 inch barn spike with a tack hammer?  NO.  You gonna drive a wooden dowel into a nearly finished Cherry wood tabletop to cover a screw hole with a 12 pound sledge hammer?  Probably not.  But what YOU are doing is trying to tighten a Phillips screw with a Multitool, then use it as a hammer, then a saw, then a 3/4 open end wrench.  All with a pocket multi-tool.  You have convinced yourself that the EVIL Greedy deplorable Microsoft empire is the Borg.  They will assimilate everyone and turn them into their minions, Dragging them to slaughter like sheep.  Oh, the Huge Manatee!!!! 

You cry about the EULA... you ever read the US tax code.  That crap will have you considering moving to Canada, until you figure out theirs is worse.  

So how long did it take you to figure out what you needed to do with WINE to make that work?  And then what amount of time did it take for you to actually do that with each instance of CPS software you loaded up so those instances would work?  Hours?  In an hour or two I can have a PC loaded, all the standard programming CPS software I use ( I work for a Motorola radio shop, so I have to basically load all of it) have Office up and going and the machine is ready to be out in the world being productive.  If I need a new version of something, I download it and install it, no special configurations, no creating special anything, it just works.  

But I am glad you have all this free time to screw around with something while it might be superior in certain aspects, is still a time robbing headache to use for many things that I would need to use a computer for in the course of the day.  

[TNFrank]

7 hours ago, WRKC935 said:

This nonsense kills me.  

But there is a cost to Linux, or any other operating system that isn't Windows.  The cost is in time.  Your personal time to figure out work a rounds to run software written to run on the operating system that is DOMINANT out there in the world.

You might want to check again. While most of the desktop computers that people use may run Windows, 99% of the Worlds Internet Servers use one version or another of GNU/Linux. All of the IOT things use Linux. As stated, the ISS runs Debian. Every Super Computer on the Planet has Linux as it's Operating System and if you really want to nit pick the majority of the World's smart phones are using Linux(Android is Linux based) so when you add it all up Linux DOMINATS the World.  It's only lazy, uninformed consumers who are ignorant of the fact that there's a superior alternative who use the pre-installed Windows Operating System. 

Given a choice of paying for Windows on a new computer or having Linux installed for free I'd bet the majority of people would save their money and pick Linux.  With Windows 10 being EOL many who can't afford new hardware to run Win 11 will seek out an alternative OS and that will be Linux.

You might want to give this a read.

https://ponderwall.com/index.php/2024/12/18/linux-dominates/

[WRKC935]

On 10/11/2025 at 6:07 AM, TNFrank said:

You might want to check again. While most of the desktop computers that people use may run Windows, 99% of the Worlds Internet Servers use one version or another of GNU/Linux. All of the IOT things use Linux. As stated, the ISS runs Debian. Every Super Computer on the Planet has Linux as it's Operating System and if you really want to nit pick the majority of the World's smart phones are using Linux(Android is Linux based) so when you add it all up Linux DOMINATS the World.  It's only lazy, uninformed consumers who are ignorant of the fact that there's a superior alternative who use the pre-installed Windows Operating System. 

Given a choice of paying for Windows on a new computer or having Linux installed for free I'd bet the majority of people would save their money and pick Linux.  With Windows 10 being EOL many who can't afford new hardware to run Win 11 will seek out an alternative OS and that will be Linux.

You might want to give this a read.

https://ponderwall.com/index.php/2024/12/18/linux-dominates/

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[WRYZ926]

I run Linux, MacOS and Windows. They all have their positives and negatives. One issue that people run into when trying to run an OS inside a virtual machine is getting the host OS to pass through the ports correctly. And a lot of computer users are not that technical when it comes to tweaking setting. I've ran just about every version of Windows in a VM when I was in IT. And the VM's were run on either Windows or Linux host computers. All three operating systems do things better than the other two.

17 hours ago, HHD1 said:

IMO they should have stopped at 7

I agree. I actually stopped using Windows when Microsoft forced me to update from 7 to 8.1. The only reason I have a Windows computer now is the fact that some radio software and model train software are Windows only and I don't feel like messing with virtual machines on Mac or Linux nor do I want to mess with emulators like WINE. I did enough of that years ago when it was part of the job.

14 minutes ago, WRKC935 said:

Normal run of the mill computer users are just that, USERS.  To them it's an appliance.  Just like a stove or a coffee maker.  It needs to do what they what it to do, simply.  Remove the simplicity of it and they will NOT want it.

This is very true and I run into this all of the time still to this day. I am often helping others with their computers and amateur radio software to get it all running properly. It's kind of like GMRS, most just want a simple to use radio. My Mac is my daily everyday computer and my Dell running W11 only runs my amateur radio software and the Windows only model train software. I have several Raspberry Pi's running. One runs Ham Clock and two are setup as Allstar nodes.

Linux and MacOS are both based on Unix. There is just enough differences in the kernel to keep software for one OS from running on the other OS. I still occasionally get into trouble when using the command line interface by getting Linux and Mac commands mixed up. It was even worse when I was still dealing with Cisco IOS as it is also very similar to Linux and MacOS.

And yes the great majority of the internet backbone runs on Linux and has for a long time. And everyone's home routers run on Linux as do pretty much all smart home devices. 

Talking about which OS is better is like talking about which radio brand is better or asking which oil to use in your vehicles. Everyone has their favorites and will argue about it.

 

[SteveShannon]

3 hours ago, TNFrank said:

You might want to check again. While most of the desktop computers that people use may run Windows, 99% of the Worlds Internet Servers use one version or another of GNU/Linux. All of the IOT things use Linux. As stated, the ISS runs Debian. Every Super Computer on the Planet has Linux as it's Operating System and if you really want to nit pick the majority of the World's smart phones are using Linux(Android is Linux based) so when you add it all up Linux DOMINATS the World.  It's only lazy, uninformed consumers who are ignorant of the fact that there's a superior alternative who use the pre-installed Windows Operating System. 

Given a choice of paying for Windows on a new computer or having Linux installed for free I'd bet the majority of people would save their money and pick Linux.  With Windows 10 being EOL many who can't afford new hardware to run Win 11 will seek out an alternative OS and that will be Linux.

You might want to give this a read.

https://ponderwall.com/index.php/2024/12/18/linux-dominates/

Linux has its place, but it doesn’t dominate the desktop computing market and no typical desktop user saves money by selecting Linux.  Someone who truly enjoys playing with computers certainly can enjoy saving money by downloading and installing one of the Linux variants, but most end users of home computers should (and do) simply use the OS that was installed on their computer when they bought it. 
In my career I programmed for VAX, MS-DOS, Windows, Linux, and a Unix based RTOS.  We always selected the OS based on its core use, not because of some misplaced OS loyalty.  It makes sense for file servers to run on Linux.  It makes sense for control programs for critical missions involving humans to use a proven RTOS.  It makes sense for artists to use Macs. And it makes sense for the average desktop user to use the OS that has applications that they’re most likely to use. 
Picking Linux for a desktop computer because NASA uses it for some computers on the ISS doesn’t make sense when considered in total. Although Linux is used for some mission critical purposes on the ISS, inhabitants of the ISS also use Windows computers for everyday things like internet access. Plus, they have a massive support structure on earth and tightly control things like upgrades, etc.

Nor does it makes sense to select an OS for the average desktop user based on what’s used to control any industrial applications, network infrastructure, supercomputer, or mars mission.  Those are very specific uses that leverage specific strengths of particular operating systems.

It’s wonderful that you enjoy Linux that much and I enjoy hearing about your successes, but Linux is no more likely to sweep the desktop market now than it was ten years ago.

[WRYZ926]

I just did some searching and Windows is till the most popular desktop OS by far. And MacOS is still more popular than Linux

I do see some Linux distributions that are easy to use and more like Windows gaining in popularity with the end of Windows 10 support. But Linux, and MacOS, will never be as popular as Windows. Windows is the easiest to use and has the most available software for most people.

[TNFrank]

Windows is only the "most popular" because it's pre-installed on the majority of consumer grade computers and people are either too lazy or ignorant of the fact that there's alternative operating systems to run their hardware.

As far as having to "fight" with Linux to get it to work, it might have been true 10 or 15 years ago but today's Distros, with very few exceptions, work fine right out of the box. No hunting down drivers like with Windows because they're build into the kennel. My latest install of MX-Linux 23.6.1 w/KDE desktop works flawlessly with my HP printer, wifi, camera, and anything else I'd care to plug in to my system.  

I can update my ENTIRE system with to commands in terminal, "sudo apt update" enter my password then "sudo apt upgrade" and everything is updated in a couple minutes, not an hour like most Windows updates, and my update don't break stuff, uninstall things or cause issues like Windows updates do. 

I will give Windows a popularity award in one area, it's the operating system that has the most viruses, malware and trojans available. It's also the most bloated and hardware hungry. Try running it on 15 year old hardware like I was doing(ThinkCenter m90z, i5 Dual Core w/8Gb of Ram and it ran great)and see how far you get.

With Win10 dying I'll be willing to bet more than a few migrate over to Linux Mint, POP!OS or Ubuntu because their hardware is still perfectly fine and the don't want to buy a new Win11 computer. 

[WRKC935]

On 10/11/2025 at 11:45 AM, TNFrank said:

Windows is only the "most popular" because it's pre-installed on the majority of consumer grade computers and people are either too lazy or ignorant of the fact that there's alternative operating systems to run their hardware.

As far as having to "fight" with Linux to get it to work, it might have been true 10 or 15 years ago but today's Distros, with very few exceptions, work fine right out of the box. No hunting down drivers like with Windows because they're build into the kennel. My latest install of MX-Linux 23.6.1 w/KDE desktop works flawlessly with my HP printer, wifi, camera, and anything else I'd care to plug in to my system.  

I can update my ENTIRE system with to commands in terminal, "sudo apt update" enter my password then "sudo apt upgrade" and everything is updated in a couple minutes, not an hour like most Windows updates, and my update don't break stuff, uninstall things or cause issues like Windows updates do. 

I will give Windows a popularity award in one area, it's the operating system that has the most viruses, malware and trojans available. It's also the most bloated and hardware hungry. Try running it on 15 year old hardware like I was doing(ThinkCenter m90z, i5 Dual Core w/8Gb of Ram and it ran great)and see how far you get.

With Win10 dying I'll be willing to bet more than a few migrate over to Linux Mint, POP!OS or Ubuntu because their hardware is still perfectly fine and the don't want to buy a new Win11 computer. 

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[MarkInTampa]

1 hour ago, TNFrank said:

 

As far as having to "fight" with Linux to get it to work, it might have been true 10 or 15 years ago but today's Distros, with very few exceptions, work fine right out of the box. No hunting down drivers like with Windows because they're build into the kennel. My latest install of MX-Linux 23.6.1 w/KDE desktop works flawlessly with my HP printer, wifi, camera, and anything else I'd care to plug in to my system.  

 

Except the DMR HT's you have tested and sent back for the simple reason you couldn't get them to work in Linux.

[SteveShannon]

1 hour ago, TNFrank said:

My latest install of MX-Linux 23.6.1 w/KDE desktop works flawlessly with my HP printer, wifi, camera, and anything else I'd care to plug in to my system.  

Except for how many radios that you tried and returned because your computer wouldn’t talk to them?  Your choice of radio was ultimately dictated by your choice of OS. I can order any radio I want knowing that I can install a driver for it. 

[TNFrank]

There's only been a couple radios I've had to send back because of the way the CPS handled connections. It's not a Linux problem, it's a CPS design problem. 

One other thing, Linux is portable. I can pull my hard drive out of one system, plug it into another system and it'll boot up and run. Try doing that with your Windows hard drive. In fact I have a couple totally different Linux Distros on external SSD drives that I can plug in and boot to and run just as easilly as the native installed OS.

Linux will only uninstall software that I tell it to uninstall so saying that an update will remove packages like MicroSoft does is a totally false statement. 

Where do you get a lot of your Windows software? In Linux mine comes from a Repository where it's vetted so I know it's virus and malware free. How do you know what is in the .exe you download from some 3rd party website? 

Linux is just a superior operating system and anyone who can't see that has drank way to much of the MicroSoft koolaid. 

[RayDiddio]

21 hours ago, TNFrank said:

Why would I want to run a bloated OS like Windows(especially 11) when I can run a lightweight, Free, Open Source OS like MX-Linux with the KDE Desktop that takes about 750Mb total to run. Plus, I don't have to worry about all the malware/spyware/viruses that folks running Windows gets. No thanks, I've been running one Distro or another of GNU/Linux for almost 14 years, I'll never go back to Windows. Especially since I picked up a new computer(Trycoon WI-4 w/16Gb or RAM and a 512Mb SSD Drive. It runs like a raped ape with MX-Linux.  It would have barely been enough for Windows 11. 

No, no need to worry about viruses and trojans. Just those pesky rootkits and things such as: 
https://www.cvedetails.com/vulnerability-list/vendor_id-33/product_id-47/version_id-1873740/year-2025/Linux-Linux-Kernel-6.12.html 

[WRYZ926]

2 hours ago, TNFrank said:

I can update my ENTIRE system with to commands in terminal, "sudo apt update" enter my password then "sudo apt upgrade" and everything is updated in a couple minutes

While this is true. most of your average home computer users do not use the command line interface. It boils down to the KISS principle. For the average home user all they have to do is click on the install button and Windows does the rest for them. Most home users do not even want to mess with the CLI let alone know how to even use it.

Each OS has its place. And for the average home user, Windows is the best solution even with all of the Windows issues.

Like I said, I run Linux, MacOS and Windows and all three for different uses. Linux works great for my networking while MacOS shines for graphic design, photo and video editing. Widows gets used for stuff that does not have Linux or MacOS software available. 

Another reason for keeping a Windows computer running is it is helpful for when I have to help others with their computers over the phone. I can walk them through each step as I perform hem on my computer.

Oh and to think that Linux, or MacOS is not susceptible to viruses, malware, and root-kits is fallacy.  Internet devices, servers, routers, etc are predominantly running Linux and they get attacked all of the time.

Use what ever OS you like. But remember, each OS has its positives and negatives. And none of them are immune to viruses, malware, or other types of hacking.

 

I do have a degree in IT/network administration and was once certified for Cisco CCNA, Cisco CCNE, Microsoft Certified System Engineer and certified for Linux administration. Those certificates are only good for so many years and I have been retired for 18 years now. 

[TNFrank]

Try this with Windows 11.