this post was submitted on 10 Jul 2026
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Linux Gaming

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A linux gamer asks, "How do I install windows for just one game?" (piefed.blahaj.zone)
submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by sem@piefed.blahaj.zone to c/linux_gaming@lemmy.world
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There is a game I am considering getting; it has been out for a few months now, and the devs are specifically blocking it from running under proton with a Kernel Level Anticheat which specifically blocks linux.

Folks on the discussion boards made the point tht it is technically possible to install windows for just one steam game, so I am looking for a guide on how to do that?

I've heard that if you don't activate windows, you can still use it, and if you get the LSTC (?) Version of windows, it is not so annoying.

Does anyone have a guide for how to install windows alongside linux for one game?

If we have a discussion in the comments about whether it is tactically appropriate to give money to a game corporation that requires windows, i guess we can, but i would rather learn how to install windows in the least annoying way possible.

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[–] Skullgrid@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

You can do one of three, for different levels of ease and performance:

  1. Install boxes/gnome-boxes, install the windows os on a virtual machine. Just press the plus to choose an iso file and go.
  2. If you have an extra hard drive, you can install windows on that hard drive, and have to set up grub to recognise it.
  3. Change the partition size of your hd using a live cd/usb version of Linux (you can't change partition size on partitions that are in use) , make a new partition and install windows on that partition. Add this new OS to grub.

You will need to do further research on some of the stuff I said, but I gave you the correct things to look up.

They go down in order of difficulty. Boxes will be less efficient but easiest. The other two have the same efficiency, but the second is a bit more challenging

[–] mrbigmouth502@piefed.zip 2 points 1 week ago

I wouldn't suggest Boxes for gaming. Even if it could do a GPU passthrough, I don't think current anticheat games, like what OP wants to run, play well with that.