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[WSL2][Install] bootstrap-windows.ps1 throws unhandled exception when winget is not installed #3972

Description

@hulynn

Description

On Windows machines where winget.exe is not installed (e.g. Windows Server or machines without App Installer), the NemoClaw bootstrap script bootstrap-windows.ps1 (PR #3744) completes the WSL2 setup steps successfully but then throws an unhandled PowerShell exception when attempting to install Docker Desktop, with no user-friendly guidance. The script does not offer an alternative install path (e.g. direct installer download) or a graceful skip option.

Environment

Device:        Windows PC (x86_64)
OS:            Windows (PowerShell 5.1), WSL2 Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS
Architecture:  x86_64
NemoClaw:      v0.0.47 (installed in WSL; bootstrap did not complete)
Node.js / npm / Docker / OpenShell / OpenClaw: N/A (install not reached)

Steps to Reproduce

  1. On a Windows machine without winget installed (verify: winget returns CommandNotFoundException).
  2. Download the bootstrap script from PR feat: add minimal Windows bootstrap installer #3744:
    Invoke-WebRequest -Uri 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NVIDIA/NemoClaw/refs/pull/3744/head/scripts/bootstrap-windows.ps1' -OutFile 'bootstrap-windows.ps1'
  3. Run:
    Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope Process -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Force
    .\bootstrap-windows.ps1
  4. Observe error after WSL2 setup completes.

Expected Result

Script detects missing winget and either:

  • (a) provides a direct Docker Desktop installer download fallback, or
  • (b) prints a clear user-friendly message with instructions to install App Installer from the Microsoft Store, then exits cleanly with a non-zero code.

Actual Result

Enabling WSL 2 Windows features...
Feature already enabled: VirtualMachinePlatform
Feature already enabled: Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux
WSL distro already registered: Ubuntu
Ubuntu is already WSL 2.
Ubuntu is ready.
winget.exe not found. Install App Installer from the Microsoft Store and re-run.
At C:\Users\local-mercl\bootstrap-windows.ps1:362 char:9
+         throw 'winget.exe not found. Install App Installer from the M ...
    + CategoryInfo          : OperationStopped: (winget.exe not ...ore and re-run.:String) [], RuntimeException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : winget.exe not found. Install App Installer from the Microsoft Store and re-run.

Logs

Not captured beyond terminal output above.


NVB#6198708

Activity

  1. added
    NV QABugs found by the NVIDIA QA Team
    UATIssues flagged for User Acceptance Testing.
    on May 21, 2026
  2. self-assigned this
    on May 21, 2026
  3. wscurran commented on May 21, 2026

    @wscurran
    Contributor
  4. added a commit that references this issue on May 21, 2026
    98294ff
  5. added theissue type on Jun 8, 2026
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NV QABugs found by the NVIDIA QA TeamUATIssues flagged for User Acceptance Testing.platform: wslAffects Windows Subsystem for Linux

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