My FORScan for Mac setup instructions

[Gangstead]

This is probably not helpful for anyone who doesn't write software all day but here's my notes for getting FORScan to run on a mac using Wine (Windows Emulator). It wasn't easy.

Since I wrote this a few months ago there's probably three new ways of doing it now, but I hope it helps some of yall.



I originally posted this in a local group thread and thought I'd share here for more visibility.

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[EgreenBadSquatch]

I ran boot camp and downloaded a free version of Windows. Worked great for me.

 

[vancomycin]

A testimonial - I followed @Gangstead 's instructions and they were perfect! Thank you! FORScan now working with minimal effort on my part on my M1 Mac for free! Without having to deal with Bootcamp or buying Parallels/Crossover.

Only changes for my personal install were that the symlink went at ~/Applications/Wineskin/FORScan.app/Contents/SharedSupport/prefix/dosdevices/com1 (presumably a change in newest version of Wine or just a variance in my own personal install)

 

[2020FordRaptor]

This is probably not helpful for anyone who doesn't write software all day but here's my notes for getting FORScan to run on a mac using Wine (Windows Emulator). It wasn't easy.

Since I wrote this a few months ago there's probably three new ways of doing it now, but I hope it helps some of yall.



I originally posted this in a local group thread and thought I'd share here for more visibility.

Thanks for sharing! Very helpful.

 

[cyberfalco]

I'm a regular macOS user but stuff that is meant to run on Windows should be run on Windows. I have to explain this to people all the time.

Awesome that you got it working though.

 

[Gangstead]

I'm a regular macOS user but stuff that is meant to run on Windows should be run on Windows. I have to explain this to people all the time.

Undoubtedly. If you have extra windows laptops around that's great advice. I considered getting a $200 laptop for this one purpose, but that comes with a whole new set of problems and jankiness. I tried to put a disclaimer that my instructions are really only for people like me who enjoy the challenge of getting it done without throwing money at the problem or downloading 20 GB images to run a single 40 MB program.

 

[cyberfalco]

Yeah, you don't want a $200 PC. I have several Dell Rugged laptops for work. The MacBooks stay clean

 

[Karl_in_Chicago]

This is encouraging to hear. I had been curious as to whether one could virtualize the Win environment to run this. If and when I ever get my Bronco knowing I can probably spin up an instance on Linux to do this is great news.

 

[zone23]

Thanks a lot this saved me from having to buy Crossover! Awesome! Thank you!!

 

[capn00]

Thank you @Gangstead ! I finally had a couple of free hours today to sit down and give this a shot, and I was able to get everything working on my M2 Mac Book Air and updated SEVERAL modules in Forscan. I was on the verge of ordering a cheap windows laptop until I followed these directions. Much appreciated!

 

[bhoth1011]

Fantastic writeup. I have a MacBook Pro M3 and just completed this. Wineskin has been replaced by a new skin called Kegworks found at the same link noted above or here: https://github.com/Kegworks-App/Kegworks. The install is exactly the same other than you will need to change wineskin to Kegworks when making the USB/Serial port setup.

 

[broncosRdumb]

getting FORScan to run on a mac using Wine (Windows Emulator).

Thank you for details, I am going to attempt this and it's a great starting point.

A point of clarification. Wine is not an emulator, it translates system calls into that operating system calls.

From winehq.org/, "Wine (originally an acronym for "Wine Is Not an Emulator") is a compatibility layer capable of running Windows applications on several POSIX-compliant operating systems, such as Linux, macOS, & BSD. Instead of simulating internal Windows logic like a virtual machine or emulator, Wine translates Windows API calls into POSIX calls on-the-fly, eliminating the performance and memory penalties of other methods and allowing you to cleanly integrate Windows applications into your desktop."

 

[Gangstead]

 

[Gangstead]

Hello FORSCanners. I just got new tires put in and it's been 3 years and the old laptop is gone so I had to redo the steps again and wouldn't you know it the WINE wrapper of 2026 is not the wrapper that worked in 2025 nor the one that worked in 2023. Updated gist instructions

 

[CalvinT]

I'm Mac only, and lazy. So I picked up a Windoze PC for cheap just for FORScan once I found out how to install Win 10 without it creating a Microsoft account.

It makes me appreciate my Mac everytime I use it.

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