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Install Windows Subsystem for Linux on a Non-System Drive

visibility 59,653 comment 11 event 2019-05-15 access_time 3 months ago language English

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This page shows how to install Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) system on a non-system drive manually. It can work with both WSL 1 and WSL 2.

Enable Windows Subsystem for Linux system feature

Open PowerShell as Administrator and run the following command to enable WSL feature:

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature -Online -FeatureName Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux

Create a folder in a non-system drive

Run the following command in PowerShell to create a folder for the installation. For my environment, I will create the folder in F drive.

cd F:\mkdir WSLcd WSL

Download a Linux distro

Run the following command in PowerShell to download a distro:

Invoke-WebRequest -Uri https://aka.ms/wsl-ubuntu-1804 -OutFile Ubuntu.appx -UseBasicParsing

The following distros are available:

Unpack the downloaded distro

Run the following PowerShell commands to unpack:

move .\Ubuntu.appx .\Ubuntu.zipExpand-Archive .\Ubuntu.zip

Initialize Linux distro

In the unzipped folder, there is one executable (*.exe).

cd .\Ubuntu\ls
Directory: F:\WSL\Ubuntu

Mode                LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                -------------         ------ ----
d-----       15/05/2019   7:40 PM                AppxMetadata
d-----       15/05/2019   7:40 PM                Assets
-a----       17/08/2018   3:15 AM         212438 AppxBlockMap.xml
-a----       17/08/2018   3:15 AM           3835 AppxManifest.xml
-a----       17/08/2018   3:17 AM          11112 AppxSignature.p7x
-a----       17/08/2018   3:15 AM      223983209 install.tar.gz
-a----       17/08/2018   3:15 AM           5400 resources.pri
-a----       17/08/2018   3:15 AM         211968 ubuntu1804.exe
-a----       17/08/2018   3:15 AM            744 [Content_Types].xml

* Based on the version of Linux distro you are using, the executable name can be different.

Run the executable to initialize:

 .\ubuntu1804.exePS F:\WSL\Ubuntu> .\ubuntu1804.exe
Installing, this may take a few minutes...
Please create a default UNIX user account. The username does not need to match your Windows username.
For more information visit: https://aka.ms/wslusers
Enter new UNIX username: raymond
Enter new UNIX password:
Retype new UNIX password:
passwd: password updated successfully
Installation successful!
To run a command as administrator (user "root"), use "sudo <command>".
See "man sudo_root" for details.

* You need to input a user name and password. I am using username raymond with**‘password’** as password.

Once the installation is done, you can see a new folder is created:

PS F:\WSL\Ubuntu> ls
Directory: F:\WSL\Ubuntu

Mode                LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                -------------         ------ ----
d-----       15/05/2019   7:40 PM                AppxMetadata
d-----       15/05/2019   7:40 PM                Assets

da----       15/05/2019   7:47 PM                rootfs
d-----       15/05/2019   7:49 PM                temp
-a----       17/08/2018   3:15 AM         212438 AppxBlockMap.xml
-a----       17/08/2018   3:15 AM           3835 AppxManifest.xml
-a----       17/08/2018   3:17 AM          11112 AppxSignature.p7x
-a----       17/08/2018   3:15 AM      223983209 install.tar.gz
-a----       17/08/2018   3:15 AM           5400 resources.pri
-a----       17/08/2018   3:15 AM         211968 ubuntu1804.exe
-a----       17/08/2018   3:15 AM            744 [Content_Types].xml

If you install WSL from Microsoft Store, the default folder in your Windows user profile will be used:

%localappdata%\Packages

rootfs folder includes the following folders:

PS F:\WSL\Ubuntu> cd .\rootfs\
PS F:\WSL\Ubuntu\rootfs> ls
Directory: F:\WSL\Ubuntu\rootfs

Mode                LastWriteTime         Length Name
----                -------------         ------ ----
da----       15/05/2019   7:47 PM                bin
da----       15/05/2019   7:44 PM                boot
da----       15/05/2019   7:44 PM                dev
da----       15/05/2019   7:48 PM                etc
da----       15/05/2019   7:48 PM                home
da----       15/05/2019   7:44 PM                lib
da----       15/05/2019   7:44 PM                lib64
da----       15/05/2019   7:44 PM                media
da----       15/05/2019   7:47 PM                mnt
da----       15/05/2019   7:44 PM                opt
da----       15/05/2019   7:44 PM                proc
da----       15/05/2019   7:44 PM                root
da----       15/05/2019   7:44 PM                run
da----       15/05/2019   7:44 PM                sbin
da----       15/05/2019   7:44 PM                snap
da----       15/05/2019   7:44 PM                srv
da----       15/05/2019   7:44 PM                sys
da----       15/05/2019   7:56 PM                tmp
da----       15/05/2019   7:46 PM                usr
da----       15/05/2019   7:47 PM                var
-a----       15/05/2019   7:56 PM          87944 init

These folders include all the Ubuntu folders (libs, executables, etc.).

List all the WSL installations

You can install many Linux distributions in one Windows system.

wslconfig command can be used to list all the installed distributions and set default distribution:

wslconfig
Performs administrative operations on Windows Subsystem for LinuxUsage:     /l, /list [/all] - Lists registered distributions.         /all - Optionally list all distributions, including distributions that                are currently being installed or uninstalled.     /s, /setdefault <DistributionName> - Sets the specified distribution as the default.     /u, /unregister <DistributionName> - Unregisters a distribution.

Find out all the WSL installations in your Windows system using the following command:

wslconfig /l
Windows Subsystem for Linux Distributions:
Ubuntu-18.04 (Default)

Set default distribution:

wslconfig /setdefault Ubuntu-18.04

Run the following command to start the default WSL distribution:

wsl

To uninstall a distribution, use the following command:

wslconfig /u distribution_name

Now you have a WSL installed in a non-system drive. Have fun!

info Last modified by Raymond 3 months ago copyright This page is subject to Site terms.

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toc Table of contents

Enable Windows Subsystem for Linux system feature
Create a folder in a non-system drive
Download a Linux distro
Unpack the downloaded distro
Initialize Linux distro
List all the WSL installations

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