If you install a program with WINE to the C: drive it will go to the prefix. This, in the context of WINE, is the “C:” drive. To remedy this issue, WINE creates WINEPREFIXes that are essentially a bottle containing a Windows file system. Windows and Linux not only have vastly different core functionality, but their filesystems are set up very differently. It has support for many different OSes but we’re going to be looking at Linux in particular. WINE, standing for WINE Is Not an Emulator, is a compatibility layer that replicates the core functionality of Windows to run Windows programs and libraries for non-Windows operating systems. With that out of the way lets start with some background so you have a better understanding of what WINE is and how we can use it to our advantage. This guide is not a guide on how to mod Oblivion in WINE, a comprehensive guide on WINE, or a guide for any other version of Oblivion. It discusses installing Oblivion through WINE, managing different WINEPREFIXes, how to isolate WINEPREFIXes, and how to get Oblivion up and running like its nothing. This guide isn't really applicable to the CD or Steam versions. You know what GPU you have, this will be important later.

You don't need to be a wizard at it, just slightly familiar enough with how it works.

You have ever used the shell/command prompt/terminal in your life.

You're running a newish version of WINE/updated your system recently enough.

You are using Linux atm, this isn't a how to use Linux guide.

Plus GoG gives you downloadable installers! This guide does make some assumptions so lets start with that. The GoG version of Oblivion is DRM free and thus the simplest version of Oblivion to work with.

Gog version of oblivion