Categories: LinuxWindows

How to install and run KDE programs in Windows

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This tutorial will guide you step by step through installing KDE in Windows.

Please note: The software used in this guide is no longer supported (download sites are also gone) and while it is probably still possible to install KDE Apps in Windows, it’s not as simple as it used to be. The KDE Community Wiki is a good starting place. Ultimately it’s probably easiest if you simply use VirtualBox (free, open source) then download and use a prebuilt Kubuntu image for VirtualBox.

First things first, you’ll need to download the KDE-Installer for Windows. You can run KDE in Windows if you’re using Windows 2000, XP, 2003 or Vista. Once the download has completed, double-click the application to begin.

  1. Launch the KDE installer, review the info on the initial screen, and click Next to continue.


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  2. Select an installation directory for KDE and its components. Click the Browse button and navigate to the folder you want to install KDE in. Once selected, click Next.


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  3. On the Install Mode screen, leave the default (End User) selected. Click Next.


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  4. Now choose a directory to store the installation files that will be downloaded. When you’re ready, click Next.


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  5. Select your Internet Connection type (probably the default I have a direct connection to the Internet). Yet again, click Next.


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  6. Choose the download server closest to you, and you guessed it, click Next.


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  7. Now place a check in the box next to each item you want to install. Next.


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  8. Depending on the packages you opted to install, you’ll be presented with a list of required packages that also need to be downloaded and installed. Click Next to start the downloads.


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  9. You may want to grab a cup of coffee at this point, but don’t go too far away from your PC…


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  10. Because you may see the following error a few times during the download process. Each time it happens, click Retry. Eventually it’ll download.


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  11. Once all of the downloads have completed, KDE will begin installing.


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  12. Don’t be surprised if a Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable package also installs.

  13. Once everything has installed you’ll be presented with the final installation screen. Read it over, and then click Finish.


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  14. Now navigate to the folder you opted to install KDE in (way back in step #2). Inside that folder you’ll find a subfolder titled bin. This is where all of the KDE applications are stored. You may want to change the folder to use the Details view, and sort by Type so you can determine which files are applications. Your choice.


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  15. Double-click an application to launch it. The screenshot below shows Konqueror, displaying the Google home page.


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  16. Amarok, the hugely popular music player/ripper/all-in-wonder, launched just fine for me, but I couldn’t get sound working (yet, I’ll update when I figure it out).


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  17. Kopete, an IM client, worked perfectly.

  18. As did the text editor KWrite.


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  19. Happy KDE’ing!

Update: for anyone missing phonon.dll, here it is.

View Comments

  • wo wo wo I thought this program enabled you to log into a full kde4 session instead of just using the kde4 programs. Either way this is AWESOME!

    I love dolphin. Too bad it doesn't have a DOS (command prompt) panel the way linux has the terminal extention. Where whenever you click it types the DOS commands.

  • Tested it out. All working great. Just ignored the vcredist_x86.exe like Martin. I'm running it through a Vista virtual box session within XP. It all runs quick. Do get the old crash message but it doesn't do anything. Thanks for the guide and the phonon.dll.

  • Awesome!

    This makes me want to reinstall Windows XP in Vmware fusion again to test it out.

    Great Guide!

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Published by
Ross McKillop
February 12, 2021 12:39 am