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0 pointsOJFord2y ago0 comments

How are you supposed to discover and use WSL?

I got fed up with trying to run Fusion360 on Linux, no longer had a Mac, and reignited my long disused Windows installation recently. Updated and restarted. Looked around for WSL, nothing. Searched online, loads of blog spam of mixed helpfulness, no way of telling (for me, new to it) if they were v1 or v2, no basic information like they're talking about Ubuntu but is that a requirement? What changes if I want x? Looked in the app store, ..stuff yes, including 'Arch WSL' for example, but is this right? It seems to work, but really, I'm supposed to install something third-party?

I assumed it was just something that was there built-in by default, but apparently not? Probably is if I first go start run regedit and set Computer Computer Windows HKLM Software Windows Windows Linux Software WSL enable to '2', right? Easy.

0 comments

dekhn2y ago

Literally the first page Google shows for [ install wsl on windows ] is the canonical documentation which is trivial to follow.

Don't touch the registry.

Our_Benefactors2y ago

Open a terminal and type “wsl”, it will tell you what to do from there. It’s also easily available in the MS App Store without an account.

noSyncCloud2y ago

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install

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Aerbil3132y ago

I’ve found running a VM easier than WINE, FYI. LookingGlass?

xen2xen12y ago

Everything is easier on Windows 11. If you have 10 it's all harder and less built in, and some features don't work at all

OJFordOP2y ago

It is 10 yes. I glossed over a few steps as 'updated and restarted' - I actually spent an entire day trying to enable secure boot and (as required in order to) upgrade to 11 and then recovering from fearing I'd bricked it. (GPU doesn't support it, I now think (beforehand had no idea that even might be an issue). Motherboard then wouldn't revert to integrated graphics even with the card removed.)

I really can't fathom how any technically-minded professional gets anything done with Windows - nevermind SEs - it just feels constantly in the way. And I'm not a die-hard Linux (nor Apple) fanatic, I grew up with Windows, it got me into 'computers'. It just seems like an uncontrollable (as in literally, operator not in control) mess compared even to macOS to me now.

(I also really wanted to like it coming back to it - I thought with WSL surely that was going to take the Unixy strength of macOS and far supersede it as a when-I-can't-use-Linux device. But so far, egh, nevermind that I think the hardware's great, I think I'd pay the Apple tax just for the OS.)

Maybe I'll try again to upgrade if the integrated graphics support it.

FireBeyond2y ago

You blame Windows for all these issues around Secure Boot, then you need to be equally annoyed at Apple for how "not easy" it is to run Linux on a Mac with a T2 security chip and disabling System Integrity Protection...

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imkehno2y ago

During the last 10 years or so I’ve gradually been using less and less Windows. Used to do everything on Windows - now at home, it’s only for gaming and I’ve been dabbling with proton to hop off the sinking ship. Due to some proprietary windows tied software, I have to use dualboot at work. All development work is and has been done on Linux for a good while.

Don’t want to support WSL - due Microsoft being Microsoft, mediocrity and smoke and mirrors to leech on your telemetry. Am waiting anxiously for the moment to cut off the final ties with Microsoft OS.

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