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I tried installing kali-win-kex by following the official guide.

    $ sudo apt install kali-win-kex -y
    dpkg: error processing archive /var/cache/apt/archives/kali-win-kex_2.7_amd64.deb (--unpack):
     new kali-win-kex package pre-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
    Errors were encountered while processing:
     /var/cache/apt/archives/kali-win-kex_2.7_amd64.deb
    E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

Trying apt install -f solve the problem changes package status from half-installed to uninstalled.

Trying to install the package directly leads to the following error:

$ sudo dpkg -i /var/cache/apt/archives/kali-win-kex_2.7_amd64.deb
(Reading database ... 102450 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../kali-win-kex_2.7_amd64.deb ...
This package is for WSL 2. Nothing to be done here.
dpkg: error processing archive /var/cache/apt/archives/kali-win-kex_2.7_amd64.deb (--install):
 new kali-win-kex package pre-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
 /var/cache/apt/archives/kali-win-kex_2.7_amd64.deb

How can I install kali-win-kex?

Windows version: 19042.746
Kali version: 2020.4 (kali-rolling)

NOTE: This should probably be the same as this question: Cannot install Kali-WIn-Kex because of Dpkg error but reviewer decided this should be a new question.

1 Answer 1

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The package kali-win-kex tests for WSL2 by checking if /mnt/wsl exists but it seems WSL is not creating that directory.

To install this package:

$ sudo mkdir -p /mnt/wsl
$ sudo apt install -y kali-win-kex
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  • Creating /mnt/wsl in this way might fix the install problem, but is not a good long-term solution, as it will break the inter-instance file transfer mechanism. Better to figure out why WSL isn't creating it automatically in Kali. Do you happen to have a /etc/wsl.conf?
    – NotTheDr01ds
    Feb 10, 2021 at 22:06
  • @NotTheDr01ds the long term solution is to use a better test for WSL2, a solution proposal is already submitted upstream.
    – xihh
    Feb 10, 2021 at 23:52
  • I'm just saying that if your answer recommends that people create a directory that will interfere with WSL functionality, it should at least also include deleting the manually created "wrong version" of the directory after the kex installation is completed.
    – NotTheDr01ds
    Feb 11, 2021 at 19:11

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