Windows Subsystem for Linux - Add desktop experience to Ubuntu  

Golden said:

Nice @Kari - easy to follow.

One issue though : I couldn't get the wsl --list --verbose command to work in PowerShell.

Weird. I have no issues in both normal user mode PS (#1) and elevated PS (#2):

Golden said:

I skipped it and proceeded directly to installing xfce.

The fact that you could not for some weird reason use wsl command means that you are still using WSL1 core, not upgraded to WSL2. This might be reason for your next issue, Firefox crashing, although I cannot be sure of that.

Golden said:

After starting xfce, I installed Firefox, but it crashes every time I open it

Again, none whatsoever issues:


Sorry Colin, I do not have a faintest clue about what to suggest.

Kari

OK. Thats odd with the wsl command not being verified. This is a completely untampered W10 Pro x64, running on MacBook via Bootcamp, so I have no idea whats going on....

Golden said:

OK. Thats odd with the wsl command not being verified. This is a completely untampered W10 Pro x64, running on MacBook via Bootcamp, so I have no idea whats going on....

Just an idea: try running wsl commands in an elevated Command Prompt:


Kari

@Kari:

Elevated cmd prompt.

using wsl --list --verbose

Code:

C:\Windows\system32>wsl --list --verbose
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Usage: wsl.exe [Argument] [Options...] [CommandLine]

Arguments to run Linux binaries:

    If no command line is provided, wsl.exe launches the default shell.

    --exec, -e <CommandLine>
        Execute the specified command without using the default Linux shell.

    --
        Pass the remaining command line as is.

Options:
    --distribution, -d <DistributionName>
        Run the specified distribution.

    --user, -u <UserName>
        Run as the specified user.

Arguments to manage Windows Subsystem for Linux:

    --export <DistributionName> <FileName>
        Exports the distribution to a tar file.
        The filename can be - for standard output.

    --import <DistributionName> <InstallLocation> <FileName>
        Imports the specified tar file as a new distribution.
        The filename can be - for standard input.

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

        Options:
            --all
                List all distributions, including distributions that are currently
                being installed or uninstalled.

            --running
                List only distributions that are currently running.

    -setdefault, -s <DistributionName>
        Sets the distribution as the default.

    --terminate, -t <DistributionName>
        Terminates the distribution.

    --unregister <DistributionName>
        Unregisters the distribution.

    --upgrade <DistributionName>
        Upgrades the distribution to the WslFs file system format.

    --help
        Display usage information.

C:\Windows\system32>

Using just wsl --list

Code:

C:\Windows\system32>wsl --list
Windows Subsystem for Linux Distributions:
Ubuntu (Default)

C:\Windows\system32>

Doing some of my own research, I also did this - not yet sure what it means:


Quick thought.....is this only available for Insider Fast Ring????

Golden said:

@Kari:

Elevated cmd prompt.

This is getting "Twilight Zone" weird...

Another idea: Let's forget that you cannot check the current WSL version. Let's just try to upgrade Ubuntu from WSL1 to WSL2. Run this command in an elevated PS or Command Prompt:

wsl --set-version Ubuntu-18.04 2

On my system, Ubuntu distro is named as Ubuntu-18.04. In your case, replace the name in above command with actual one. It looks that you have it named simply as Ubuntu.

Kari

Elevated cmd

Code:

C:\Windows\system32>wsl --set-version Ubuntu 2
Invalid command line option: --set-version
Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Usage: wsl.exe [Argument] [Options...] [CommandLine]

Arguments to run Linux binaries:

    If no command line is provided, wsl.exe launches the default shell.

    --exec, -e <CommandLine>
        Execute the specified command without using the default Linux shell.

    --
        Pass the remaining command line as is.

Options:
    --distribution, -d <DistributionName>
        Run the specified distribution.

    --user, -u <UserName>
        Run as the specified user.

Arguments to manage Windows Subsystem for Linux:

    --export <DistributionName> <FileName>
        Exports the distribution to a tar file.
        The filename can be - for standard output.

    --import <DistributionName> <InstallLocation> <FileName>
        Imports the specified tar file as a new distribution.
        The filename can be - for standard input.

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

        Options:
            --all
                List all distributions, including distributions that are currently
                being installed or uninstalled.

            --running
                List only distributions that are currently running.

    -setdefault, -s <DistributionName>
        Sets the distribution as the default.

    --terminate, -t <DistributionName>
        Terminates the distribution.

    --unregister <DistributionName>
        Unregisters the distribution.

    --upgrade <DistributionName>
        Upgrades the distribution to the WslFs file system format.

    --help
        Display usage information.

C:\Windows\system32>

Powershell

Code:

PS C:\Windows\system32> wsl --set-version Ubuntu 2
 wsl : The term 'wsl' is not recognized as the name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or operable program. Check the spelling of the name, or if a
path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.
At line:1 char:1
+ wsl --set-version Ubuntu 2
+ ~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ObjectNotFound: (wsl:String) [], CommandNotFoundException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : CommandNotFoundException

PS C:\Windows\system32>

Golden said:

Elevated cmd

@Colin, I have no words to describe how confused I am at the moment. I simply cannot reproduce your issues, everything working like a dream.

If Firefox keeps crashing, can you install and use Chrome?

Kari

I tried installing Chrome, but was only partially succesful - there were some missing components that prevented installation. So at the moment, I have no functioning browser in Ubuntu.

I'll do more research.

Golden said:

I tried installing Chrome, but was only partially succesful - there were some missing components that prevented installation. So at the moment, I have no functioning browser in Ubuntu.

I'll do more research.

Did you follow these instructions exactly as told: How to Install Chrome in Ubuntu | Tutorialology

Kari

Since I had no browser, I was unable to download the .deb, so I followed this instead:
How to Install Google Chrome Web Browser on Ubuntu 18.04 | Linuxize