# Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 - Installation Protip

If you're installing Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2), or if you're trying to upgrade from plain old WSL, please [check and double-check](https://s1gr1d.medium.com/how-to-set-up-linux-on-windows-with-wsl-2-debe2a64d20d) your CPU settings in your BIOS. For most motherboards, there is a setting to enable or disable CPU virtualization - this setting needs to be enabled if you want to successfully install and run WSL2, and it is often disabled by default. You may need to consult the manual and/or documentation for your specific motherboard to figure out which setting this is - for example, on ASUS motherboards, [the relevant setting](https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1045141/) is labeled SVM.

Compared to WSL, WSL2 does offer [better virtualization support and a true Linux kernel](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/compare-versions), but it does require more system access than its predecessor. Unfortunately, Microsoft's [basic install instructions](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install) don't explicitly mention BIOS access, although it is mentioned in Microsoft's [troubleshooting documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/troubleshooting#error-0x80370102-the-virtual-machine-could-not-be-started-because-a-required-feature-is-not-installed).

Anyway, that's it. I just wanted to get something written after a prolonged silence. It's been a while (at least a year) since I set up WSL2, and while I did struggle with installation, I can't quite remember the whole story, or how I figured out the BIOS issue.

I did do some research just before writing this piece, and most third-party instructions for WSL2 setup now mention checking your BIOS, so it seems like a fairly common sticking point, although all of the instructions I saw in this regard seem like they were written over the past couple of months.  
  
As such, I still think it's worth mentioning.