Guide: Installing W:ET on a Chromebook

[BlackWolf]

Hi all,

 

I've got a Pixel Slate Chromebook and wanted to see if I could get ET up and running on there. After plenty of trial and error, I've come across a relatively quick way to get it running pretty smoothly.

 

This guide should work with any Chromebook since 2020.

 

Ways of installing

There were several ways of getting ET installed and running on a Chromebook, and the below methods proved incompatible:

1) Installing the Android version of ET: Legacy. This only allows connection to Legacy servers, has significant performance issues, and has sporadic mouse performance.

2) Installing Linux, then the Linux version of ET. Whilst this seems to launch OK, mouse support is poor and there is no sound. Standard Linux sound fixes to do not work.

3) Installing Linux, then the Linux version of ET: Legacy. This launches with sound, but performance is poor and mouse support is also sporadic.

 

The best way was to install Linux, Wine, then the Windows version of ET. This may sound complex but with the below, it should only take a few minutes.

 

1. Install Linux

1) Select Settings>Advanced>Developers.

2) Turn On “Linux Development Environment”.

3) Leave everything as default, pick a username (the shorter the better) and proceed.

 

This will take a minute or two to complete, so you can just leave this running.

 

Easy!

 

2. Install additional software

1) Open 'Terminal' which will now be available as an app on your device.

2) Enable 32 bit apps (you'll need this to run ET) by entering the below and hitting enter (you can paste this into the terminal with CTRL + SHIFT + V. Enter these line by line, followed by hitting Enter:

 

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get upgrade

 

3) Install Wine and an additional package to allow the ET installer to run:

 

sudo apt install wine wine32 wine64 libwine libwine:i386 fonts-wine dialog

 

You'll be advised how much storage this will take. Type 'Y' and hit Enter to proceed with the install.

 

This will take a few minutes; just leave it running.

 

3. Download ET

1) Download the official ET 2.60b installed for Windows from Splash Damage by clicking here.

2) Open 'Files' app and head to your 'Downloads' folder.

3) Drag and drop the installed from 'Downloads' into 'Linux files'.

 

4. Install ET

1) Re-open the terminal.

2) Run the below command to install the game:

 

wine WolfET_2_60b_custom.exe

 

The installer will now run just as it does for Windows. If you get an error about an ETKey not being available, you can click 'ignore' and proceed with the installation.

 

5. Launching ET

Each time you launch ET, you'll need to open Terminal and run these two commands.

 

Terminal will remember these once you've run them, so each time you want to play, just hit the up arrow in the Terminal to bring them back up again.

 

Navigate to the installation folder:

 

cd /home/yourusernamehere/.wine/drive_c/Program\ Files\ \(x86\)/Wolfenstein\ -\ Enemy\ Territory/

wine explorer /desktop=ET,3000x2000 ET.exe

 

Important notes x2:

1) Replace 'yourusernamehere' with your username which is already visible in the terminal.

2) Replace '3000x2000' with the resolution of your device's screen.

 

6. Running in full screen

1) When the game launches, it'll be in a small window mode. Fix this by opening the in-game console and running:

/r_mode -1

/r_customwidth 3000

/r_customheight 2000

/vid_restart

 

* Replace 3000 and 2000 with the resolution of your device's screen.

 

7. Keeping your levels and XP

1) Open your Chromebook's file explorer and head to 'Linux files' folder.

2) Click the 3 dots a the top right, then 'Show hidden files'

3) Navigate through folders .wine -> drive_c -> Program Files (x86) -> Wolfenstein - Enemy Territory

4) Copy your etkey file from your etmain folder on your normal PC, to the etmain folder on your Chromebook. You can also copy relevant files for Silent and Nitmod to keep your XP and levels.

 

Edited November 8, 2023 by BlackWolf