Switched from (unknown to me) pirated windows to Ubuntu - can't seem to handle my games. I am e-idiot - is there an easy fix?

Never used Ubuntu before, but are you sure you got all the basic programs for it? You know, drivers and stuff.

how much time do you have lol

ok - do some reading at WINE HQ - learn how to configure it properly and you can get it to run quite a few games. It will need some tlc, so be warned.

There are commercial versions of wine also - google playonlinux (yes all 1 word) that is constantly updated as well.

No matter how much I love nix, if you are a serious gamer, you are in for a tough ride ahead.

Hope this gives you a couple of directions to look :)

No, there is no easy fix. Windows software does not run natively on Linux, however you do have options. You could run Windows within Linux via a virtual machine, but that does require a legitimate copy of Windows. Without a legit copy of Windows, your best bet will be the previously mentioned Wine and its variants, but that is a bit hit or miss. If you run into issues, you might have better luck visiting the Ubuntu forums and asking questions there about running specific games. Clarification: PlayOnLinux is not a commercial version of Wine, it is a free front end GUI for Wine that makes doing things with Wine, especially running games, quite a bit easier. The commercial version of Wine is CodeWeavers CrossOver.

correct :) and there is also crossover games (however its limited)

CrossOver Games has been discontinued. They now only have CrossOver Linux XI and CrossOver Mac XI, both of which include specific game support.

Ok - I will live with black xp for now BUT appears y game is GONE based on effed up attempt to install to ubuntu. How to get i back?

If you installed Ubuntu, it likely re-formatted your drive during the install (that's what it does by default), erasing everything that used to be on your drive. You can't get it back without re-installing Windows, then re-installing the game.

No,, the game is gone from my GOG account!

Unless I am misunderstanding this... Ubuntu has no ties with GOG so it shouldn't even affect your GOG account. The game should still be listed in your GOG account when you log into the website.

I can and have downloaded GOG games on Ubuntu and have finished Witcher 1 and 2 on that platform. Post back some more information over what you're doing. How did you tell that the game is gone from your GOG account??

Yeah, that's not related to Ubuntu at all. If a game is actually gone from your account page on GOG, then something completely unrelated has happened and the GOG staff are going to have to fix it.

Thanks - will be on my way - appreciate the help!