Incorrect WSL MSI installation via CMD and Psexec

[soragXYZ]

Windows Version

Microsoft Windows [version 10.0.22631.3296]

WSL Version

2.1.5.0

Are you using WSL 1 or WSL 2?

• WSL 2
• WSL 1

Kernel Version

Irrelevant

Distro Version

Irrelevant

Other Software

No response

Repro Steps

• Become admin
• Start CMD as admin
• Start powershell with Psexec:

Psexec -e -s -i powershell.exe

• In the 2nd window, execute install.cmd which installs the MSI

Here are the install scripts:
File install.cmd

@call powershell .\installMsiWSL2.ps1

File installMsiWSL.ps1

#Requires -RunAsAdministrator

# Variables
$MsiFile = "wsl.2.1.5.0.x64.msi"
$MsiLogFile = "C:\theLogDirectory"

$RC = (Start-Process -FilePath "msiexec.exe" -ArgumentList "/I $MsiFile /L*vx ${MsiLogFile} /qn" -Wait -PassThru).ExitCode

if (-not ($RC -eq 0 -or $RC -eq 3010)) {
    Write-Output "The msi has returned an error: ${RC}"
    Exit 1
}

Expected Behavior

MSI should be installed correctly
The command wsl --version should display the installed version

Actual Behavior

The MSI is not installed: the command wsl --version returns the help instead of the currently installed version

I have to launch the .cmd twice in a row otherwise the MSI is not installed.

For some reason, in the logs it seems like the installation was successfull, no error whatsoever.
But the MSI is clearly not installed

Diagnostic Logs

install.txt

[github-actions]

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How to collect WSL logs

Download and execute collect-wsl-logs.ps1 in an administrative powershell prompt:

Invoke-WebRequest -UseBasicParsing "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/microsoft/WSL/master/diagnostics/collect-wsl-logs.ps1" -OutFile collect-wsl-logs.ps1
Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force
.\collect-wsl-logs.ps1

The scipt will output the path of the log file once done.

Once completed please upload the output files to this Github issue.

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View similar issues

Please view the issues below to see if they solve your problem, and if the issue describes your problem please consider closing this one and thumbs upping the other issue to help us prioritize it!

Open similar issues:

• wsl.2.1.3.0.x64.msi package does not install or update windows Subsystem for Linux. (#11190), similarity score: 0.73
• wsl --install : Don't work with System context (#11142), similarity score: 0.72

Closed similar issues:

• WSL msi will not install via Intune (#10906), similarity score: 0.73

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[soragXYZ]

WslLogs-2024-04-06_22-37-28.zip

[github-actions]

Diagnostic information

Appx package is not installed

[zcobol]

For some reason, in the logs it seems like the installation was successful, no error whatsoever indeed, the installation is successful. However, if you run any wsl command, beside wsl --version which returns the help output, from within that window (In the 2nd window, execute install.cmd which installs the MSI) it returns Access is denied. Open a new terminal window and run wsl --version and you'll see that the package was installed.

[OneBlue]

Thank you @soragXYZ.

Looking at the logs, it looks like the registry part of the MSI is missing.

Can you try to fully installing WSL by running: C:\Program Files\WSL\wsl.exe" --uninstall, and reinstall the latest MSI and see if that solves the issue ?

[soragXYZ]

Thank you @OneBlue

I tried with the latest version of the MSI, ie 2.2.2.0, I still have the same issue

[OneBlue]

Interesting. I'd be interested to look the MSI logs for that.

Can you run wsl --uninstall, and then share the msiexec logs of a new installation ?

[soragXYZ]

After more testing, it seems like the command wsl --uninstall partially solved my issue:

When I start a new installation by calling install.cmd in the 2nd window opened by PsExec, the MSI is correctly installed because I can successfully run the command wsl --version in a 3rd powershell window and get the expected output.

However, the command wsl --version in the 2nd window opened by PsExec still returns the help.
Am I missing something here ? Why do I need to open a 3rd window ?
Do I have to update env var or something in the 2nd window ?

Concerning my first tests and the error, it seems like I had to install the MSI twice only because I didn't uninstall it correctly at first.

I have an another script used for the uninstallation which basically runs the command :
Start-Process -FilePath "msiexec.exe" -ArgumentList "/X $MsiFile /L*V $MsiLogFile /qn" -Wait -PassThru

Do you recommend using wsl --uninstall over Start-Process -FilePath "msiexec.exe" -ArgumentList "/X $MsiFile /L*V $MsiLogFile /qn" -Wait -PassThru for the uninstallation ?

Thanks for your answers and your time

[OneBlue]

@soragXYZ: There is unfortunately a delay for the WSL installation to complete even after msiexec returns successfully.

This issue is fixed in insider builds, but it's not fixed on older builds yet. This is most likely what you're experiencing

[soragXYZ]

@OneBlue thanks for the answer

Do we have a release date planned ?

[OneBlue]

Unfortunately not yet. Most likely in the coming months.

[OneBlue]

This should be now available on all recent Windows builds. Closing for now.

Please reopen if the issue still reproduces with the latest windows builds.