An unlisted application is an application that does not have a CrossTie, or installation recipe, in CrossOver's application database. CrossOver does not default any install details for unlisted applications, so they may not run correctly or at all. But if you’re willing to experiment, it might be possible to get an unlisted application working.

To begin, search the compatibility database to see if the program you're trying to install is listed there. If other users have worked with the same program, there may be useful information. You can check out the comments that other users have left on their ratings, you can go to the Tips section, and you can search the forums to potentially learn how to get your program running.

If the compatibility database doesn’t yield any answers, there are a few other things you can try such as installing additional dependencies, make changes to Wine Configuration, and edit registry settings.

Note that our support staff will not examine unsolicited logs for an unlisted application.

Installing Dependencies

Since unlisted applications don't have CrossTies, CrossOver doesn't know what dependencies the Windows application may require. CrossOver is not a Windows OS, so not all libraries are already installed by default like they would be in a full Windows environment. Manually adding dependencies may enable your Windows application to run.

To install dependencies into a particular bottle (i.e., the bottle containing the unlisted application), select the bottle from the Bottles list in the left sidebar and click Install Application into Bottle.

Next, search for the dependency you want to install. Once you have located the dependency, click the tile to proceed to the details screen.

Finally, click Install. Note that CrossOver has identified the bottle you selected as the bottle for installation.

Common dependencies include the following:

• Core Fonts
• Microsoft .NET Framework
• Microsoft Visual C++
• Microsoft Visual Basic
• Microsoft XML Parser
• msls31
• Windows OLE Components
• Internet Explorer 8
• MDAC 2.8 (Microsoft Data Access Components)

If aren't sure which dependencies are needed, try to make an educated guess based on the program's error messages.

Importing Dependency Archives

Another method of installing dependencies is to import an archive of them. Below are four such archives that can be imported into CrossOver. Clicking one of these links begins downloading the archive. When you are prompted for an unlock code, enter demo.

• Dependency-archive.cxarchive
• Dependency_64-bit.cxarchive
• The-Kitchen-Sink.cxarchive
• 64-bit_Win10_Dependencies.cxarchive

In the following example The Kitchen Sink archive is downloaded and imported into CrossOver. This archive contains many dependencies pre-installed, and once imported into CrossOver you can try installing your Windows application into the same bottle and see if it's able to run.

Once the download is complete, import the archive into CrossOver by going to the Bottle menu and select Import Bottle Archive.

After you import the dependency archive, select your newly imported bottle from the Bottles list in the left sidebar, and click Install Application into Bottle.

On the Install screen, select Install an Unlisted Application.

Note that CrossOver has identified the bottle you selected as the bottle for installation, so you just need to select your installer and click Install.

Additionally, advanced users can gather a debug log of a misbehaving program and determine which specific libraries or frameworks referenced in log error messages are needed to get the program running.

Adjusting Wine Configuration Settings

The Wine Configuration tool allows you to make changes to bottle settings. This tool is quite powerful and incorrect settings may damage the bottle and require it to be deleted.

The Wine Configuration tool is accessible from the Control Panels menu in the right sidebar when a bottle is selected.

Common troubleshooting steps in the Wine Configuration tool include the following:

• Changing DLL Overrides (Libraries tab) — Crossover by default tries to handle all API commands your Windows program wants to use. Using the Libraries tab you can tell Crossover to pass the API commands to use a native Windows DLL instead.
   
• To change an existing override, select a DLL from the Existing overrides list and click Edit. The Native option uses the native Windows DLL and the Builtin option uses Wine's replacement.
  
   
• If your application installs a custom DLL, for example called SOMEAPP.DLL, you can add that DLL here and tell Crossover to default to using the native DLL instead of trying to translate the API command using Wine's replacement DLLs. To add a new DLL, enter the name of the DLL in New override for library and click Add.
  
   
• Emulate a Virtual Desktop (Graphics tab) — This makes any program in the bottle think it's running full-screen when it's actually running in a window on your desktop. This helps alleviate window management problems in some programs. Click on Emulate a virtual desktop and set the desired size. Stick to a 4:3 aspect ratio like 800x600 or 1024x768.
  
   
• Map a new drive letter (Drives tab) — CrossOver creates and maps three drive letters in each bottle. The C:' drive points to the root of the bottle, the 'Y:' drive to your home folder, and 'Z: points to the root of your hard drive. External drives or removable drives like CDs, DVDs, and USB sticks are automatically given a drive letter when mounted by the OS. In some cases, a program wants its CD/DVD mounted before it'll run as a type of copy protection. Click Add, choose the D: drive, and set it to the CD/DVD.
  
  
  
  

Editing registry keys

Editing a bottle's registry keys can be beneficial, mainly for games. If registry keys are needed, they're often found on the program's app entry.