How to install and run KDE programs in Windows

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

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.

    2. initial KDE installation screen for Windows
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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.

    3. select an installation location for KDE in windows
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  3. On the Install Mode screen, leave the default (End User) selected. Click Next.

    4. selecting an install mode for KDE in Windows
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  4. Now choose a directory to store the installation files that will be downloaded. When you’re ready, click Next.

    5. selecting a directory to store the installation files for KDE in windows
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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.

    6. selecting the internet connection type for the KDE windows installer
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  6. Choose the download server closest to you, and you guessed it, click Next.

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

    8. pick the KDE options you want to install in windows
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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.

    9. the required KDE packages for a windows installation
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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…

    10. kde downloading
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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.

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

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

    13. ms visual c++ redistributable pacakge installing

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

    14. kde instllation finishing
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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.

    windows explorer displaying the kde programs and components
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  15. Double-click an application to launch it. The screenshot below shows Konqueror, displaying the Google home page.

    16. Konqueror running in windows
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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).

    17. amarok running in windows
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  17. Kopete, an IM client, worked perfectly.

    18. kopete running in windows

  18. As did the text editor KWrite.

    19. kwrite running in windows
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  19. Happy KDE’ing!
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