Windows 10: wsl --install just brings up usage

Following these instructions: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/installIt seems very simple that I should just need to open powershell as admin and run: wsl --installBut this does nothing but bring up the usage:```PS C:\WINDOWS\system32> wsl --installCopyright c Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Usage: wsl.exe [Argument] [Options...] [CommandLine] Arguments for running Linux binaries: If no command line is provided, wsl.exe launches the default shell. --exec, -e -- &nb

:)

 

wsl installation nightmare

Hello. wsl is commandline perfered. I do not think it has a GUI. The issue maybe that windows terminal is crashing or powershell. For wsl use the command line Win+R C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe

cmd.exe wsl

wsl --list --online

wsl --install -d Ubuntu --web-download

wsl --stats

bash

sudo apt install blahblah

exit

exit

Usally you can just go in the MSstore and click install on Ubuntu ect.

no dns required.

Other options: Viurtal box Or use a live USB Ubunti.iso but dont install.

 

How do I stop vmmem from using too much memory when wsl is not installed?

So my computer has been experiencing massive slowdowns recently, and I decided to try to diagnose the issue. For whatever reason, my programs using a normal amount of memory they used to were showing as using the majority of it now.

I dug deeper and found that vmmem is using an ungodly amount of memory. I could not kill the process, and I went to research the issue online and found people suggesting to simply try "wsl --shutdown" in command prompt.

Well, I tried it, and all I got was a bunch of command arguments explained to me. I tried the other commands, and I saw that install actually started an installation. So I conclude that what is going on here is that wsl is not even installed! I could not find an alternative method to remove this memory hog. I would include a screenshot, however my computer is too laggy to load the screenshot tool.

by the way: I do use a virtual machine, and I did open up the program and simply cleared all my servers(I use VMs for temporary sandboxed environments and nothing more)

The last time I used a VM was about a few months ago - before the issues started.

Snipped copypaste of the command prompt reply when I attempt any wsl command other than install:

C:\WINDOWS\system32>wsl --shutdown

Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Usage: wsl.exe [Argument]

Arguments:

--install <Options>
Install Windows Subsystem for Linux features. If no options are specified,
the recommended features will be installed along with the default distribution.

To view the default distribution as well as a list of other valid distributions,
use 'wsl --list --online'.

Options:
--distribution, -d [Argument]
Specifies the distribution to be downloaded and installed by name.

Arguments:
A valid distribution name (not case sensitive).

Examples:
wsl --install -d Ubuntu
wsl --install --distribution Debian

--list, -l [Options]
Lists distributions.

Options:
--online, -o
Displays a list of available distributions for install with 'wsl --install'.

--help
Display usage information.

 

wsl installation nightmare

Hey guys,

Haven't been able to install wsl on windows. Here's a summary of my pain:

PS C:\Users\[me]> wsl -d Ubuntu-22.04

There is no distribution with the supplied name. Error code: Wsl/Service/WSL_E_DISTRO_NOT_FOUND

PS C:\Users\[me]> wsl --install -d Ubuntu-22.04

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is already installed.

Launching Ubuntu 22.04 LTS...

The operation completed successfully.

PS C:\Users\[me]> wsl -l -v

Windows Subsystem for Linux has no installed distributions.

Use 'wsl.exe --list --online' to list available distributions and 'wsl.exe --install ' to install.

Distributions can also be installed by visiting the Microsoft Store: Install WSL

Error code: Wsl/WSL_E_DEFAULT_DISTRO_NOT_FOUND

Whenever it does "successfully" launch, it just flashes a terminal on the screen for half a second and immediately closes. Then some background process called WSL lives on in the task manager, though it uses no resources.

The only way I could download it originally was through the command

wsl --install -d Ubuntu-22.04 --web-download

Trying to install through windows store or the above command without web-download just timed out.

This is a new Win11 pc, fully updated. I have restarted it multiple times and re-enabled the optional features for vm / wsl / hypervisor.

I also can't seem to download anything from the windows store. I thought this may be a firewall issue, but it has permissions in the firewall settings and disabling the firewall seems to have no impact.

If I remove both installations (WSL & Ubuntu 22.04), I can try this:

PS C:\Users\tyler> wsl --install -d Ubuntu-22.04

Installing: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
An error occurred during installation. Distribution Name: 'Ubuntu 22.04 LTS' Error Code: 0x80072ee2

Happens regardless of DNS status to 8.8.8.8 (google) or firewall enabled/disabled (fixes recommended elsewhere).