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submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by TheViking@nord.pub to c/linux4noobs@programming.dev

I simply opened the power shell on my windows computer and gave the command wsl --install.

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[-] ATPA9@feddit.org 13 points 2 months ago

If you want the true linux experiance, boot up a vm with the distro you want to try and go from there. You don't need the console for much these days if you don't want to.

[-] Ftumch@lemmy.today 7 points 2 months ago

It's probably displaying help output because something went wrong parsing the command. Scroll up to see what it says the problem is. Perhaps you forgot a dash or misspelled "install"?

[-] Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago

Someone else mentioned VM but didn't give details.

Click Start, type in HyperV, install the HyperV component. In HyperV, click Quick Create. Select Ubuntu, install. You'll have a full Linux running in a window as if you built a second PC.

[-] TheViking@nord.pub 1 points 2 months ago

Thanks, but i've got only 4 gb ram. Do you see the problem ?

[-] certified_expert@lemmy.world 10 points 2 months ago

if you have windows with 4gb of ram... better backup your files, ditch windows and install linux as your native OS

[-] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 5 points 2 months ago

Lol.

As someone who uses both extensively, and dependent on OneNote, even I wholly agree.

OP would be better off running Linux and replacing Windows dependencies with Linux equivalents.

Uggh, Windows on 4GB - even XP would struggle with that.

[-] certified_expert@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago

Dude... two words: emacs org-mode.

You will love it, then hate it, then like it, then actually love it, then hate it again, then be at peace with it because it gets the job done and it is yours, trully yours.

[-] TheViking@nord.pub 1 points 2 months ago

Do you think if l replace the os with MX Linux fluxbox, create a virtual machine using QEMU, would l be able to install windows in that VM ??

[-] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 5 points 2 months ago

Given your ram constraints, stick with WSL.

[-] Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

Yes that is a problem.

[-] Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world 1 points 2 months ago

It's more work but you could still do HyperV and Linux but not the full Ubuntu Desktop. You could download a 1GB ram distro like Lubuntu onto a USB stick and install it under HyperV. And equivalent to wsl which gives you a Linux command line would be Ubuntu server headless which needs only 512MB.

But yeah wsl is easier.

[-] Templa@beehaw.org 3 points 1 month ago

Good luck with windows closing your WSL session without warning

I god fed up with it eventually

[-] TheViking@nord.pub 1 points 2 months ago

My problem has been solved. Thanks.

[-] obelisk_complex@piefed.ca 5 points 2 months ago

I'm glad to hear it! If you have time, it's considered good manners to post the solution to your question if you find it, so anyone else with the same problem who finds the thread also finds the solution ☺️

[-] TheViking@nord.pub 0 points 2 months ago

I asked Gemini. Do you suppose it's worth posting here ??🤨🤨🤨

[-] obelisk_complex@piefed.ca 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

If it worked for you, yeah. "If an idea is stupid and it works, it's not stupid", kind of sentiment (☞゚ヮ゚)☞

[-] TheViking@nord.pub 1 points 1 month ago

After going through my screenshot, Gemini suggested me to download a certain tool from Microsoft and install it, giving me the exact steps to do it. I followed, and then found my newly installed WSL working again.

[-] ramble81@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 month ago

Guessing you were missing a distro. You basically installed the WSL framework but need to install a distro after that.

[-] TheViking@nord.pub 1 points 1 month ago

Wsl is independent of distro.

[-] hoohoohoot@fedinsfw.app 1 points 1 month ago

Separate storage drive (I recommend a SSD) and install a Linux distro on that disk (make sure you dont install on your windows machine otherwise you will delete Windows

If you download Ubuntu from the App Store it should set everything up for you without needing to do anything.

[-] TheViking@nord.pub 2 points 1 month ago

TBH, l don't like ubuntu.

this post was submitted on 19 Jun 2026
4 points (64.3% liked)

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