wsl --install : Don't work with System context

[Radhwen-1919]

Windows Version

19045.3930

WSL Version

2.0.14

Are you using WSL 1 or WSL 2?

• WSL 2
• WSL 1

Kernel Version

No response

Distro Version

Ubuntu

Other Software

No response

Repro Steps

I want to deply WSL 2 to Intune but when testing on my local machine I can't install WSL with system context (C:\pstools\PsExec.exe /s cmd) .

the Script:

####### Install the latest version of Ubuntu ######

Write-Log -Message "Starting Install WSL..."

wsl --install

########## Update WSL to the latest version ##########

Write-Log -Message "Starting Update WSL to the latest version..."

wsl --update --web-download

########## Set default version 2 ##########

Write-Log -Message "Starting Set default version 2..."

wsl --set-default-version 2

########## Install Ubuntu distribution ##########

Write-Log -Message "Starting Install Ubuntu distribution..."

wsl --install -d Ubuntu --no-launch

command for testing:
%WINDIR%\System32\windowsPowershell\v1.0\Powershell.exe -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -NoLogo -NonInteractive -NoProfile -WindowStyle Hidden -File Install_WSL.ps1

Expected Behavior

It should install WSL and update to latest version and set version 2 and instal Ubuntu distribution.

Actual Behavior

It gives the output:

COMMENTAIRES : Starting Install WSL...
o p y r i g h t ( c ) M i c r o s o f t C o r p o r a t i o n . T o u s d r o i t s r Ú s e r v Ú s .
u t i l i s a t i o n á : W S L . e x e [ A r g u m e n t ] [ O p t i o n s . . . ] [ C o m m a n d L i n e ]

COMMENTAIRES : Starting Update WSL to the latest version...
Ú l Ú c h a r g e m e n t e n c o u r s á : S o u s - s y s t Þ m e W i n d o w s p o u r L i n u x
I n s t a l l a t i o n e n c o u r s á : S o u s - s y s t Þ m e W i n d o w s p o u r L i n u x
P a r a m Þ t r e i n c o r r e c t .

COMMENTAIRES : Starting Set default version 2...
P o u r p l u s d ↓ i n f o r m a t i o n s s u r l e s d i f f Ú r e n c e s d e c l Ú s a v e c W S L á 2 , v i s i t e z h t t p s : / / a k a . m s / w s l 2
L ↓ o p Ú r a t i o n a r Ú u s s i .

COMMENTAIRES : Starting Install Ubuntu distribution...

• i n s t a l l : u n r e c o g n i z e d o p t i o n : n o - l a u n c h
  C o p y r i g h t ( c ) M i c r o s o f t C o r p o r a t i o n . T o u s d r o i t s r Ú s e r v Ú s .
  u t i l i s a t i o n á : W S L . e x e [ A r g u m e n t ] [ O p t i o n s . . . ] [ C o m m a n d L i n e ]

Diagnostic Logs

No response

[github-actions]

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[Skeb1ns]

Any updates on this? Using Intune to distribute wsl and found out that it currently doesn't want to install in System context. Any reason why this limitation exists?

Our users don't have admin permissions (which they should not have in a corporate environment).

[martencassel]

One could try to deploy WSL2 to non-admin users through Intune using the WSL2 MSI [1] and/or the Intune [2] "Windows LOB apps" feature.
The required feature VirtualMachinePlatform, could also be deployed as a dependency (Another Win32 APp). using Intune.

[1] https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/releases
[2] https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/solutions/apps-type-lob?view=o365-worldwide