Complete script to install Windows Package Manager (winget) on Tiny10/LTSC without Microsoft Store

README.md

Installing Winget on Tiny10 (Windows 10 Lite)

This repository provides a PowerShell script to install the Windows Package Manager (winget) on Tiny10 or other lightweight Windows 10 distributions where it's not pre-installed.

The Problem

When trying to install winget on Tiny10, users often encounter the following issues:

• "No applicable app licenses found" error after installing the basic components
• Missing dependencies (VCLibs, UI.Xaml)
• Missing runtime components (VCRUNTIME140.dll)
• Access and PATH issues with the WindowsApps folder

The Solution

The Install-Winget.ps1 script automates the entire installation process:

1. Installs Visual C++ Redistributable (for VCRUNTIME140.dll)
2. Downloads all required dependencies:
   • Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller package
   • License XML file (critical for proper installation)
   • Microsoft.VCLibs UWP package
   • Microsoft.UI.Xaml package
3. Properly installs winget with its license file
4. Creates an accessible batch wrapper in C:\Tools
5. Updates PATH settings for easy access

Usage

1. Download the script
2. Open PowerShell as Administrator
3. Run:

   powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File "C:\path\to\Install-Winget.ps1"

4. Restart your terminal
5. Verify installation with winget --version

Requirements

• Windows 10 (Tiny10 or similar lightweight distribution)
• Administrator privileges
• Internet connection

Notes

• This script is specifically designed for Tiny10 and similar lightweight Windows distributions
• The installation process doesn't require Microsoft Store
• The installed winget will not receive automatic updates

Install-Winget.ps1

# Complete Winget Installer for Tiny10/LTSC
# Run as Administrator
# Created on: April 10, 2025

# Ensure we're running with admin rights
if (-not ([Security.Principal.WindowsPrincipal][Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent()).IsInRole([Security.Principal.WindowsBuiltInRole]"Administrator")) {
    Write-Host "This script requires administrative privileges. Please run as Administrator." -ForegroundColor Red
    exit 1
}

# Create a temporary directory
$tempDir = "$env:TEMP\WingetInstall"
New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path $tempDir | Out-Null
Set-Location $tempDir

Write-Host "=== Tiny10 Winget Installer ===" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "Step 1: Installing Visual C++ Redistributable..." -ForegroundColor Cyan

# Download and install VC++ Redistributable
$vcRedistUrl = "https://aka.ms/vs/17/release/vc_redist.x64.exe"
$vcRedistPath = "$tempDir\vc_redist.x64.exe"

Write-Host "Downloading Visual C++ Redistributable..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
try {
    Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $vcRedistUrl -OutFile $vcRedistPath -UseBasicParsing
} catch {
    Write-Host "Failed to download Visual C++ Redistributable. Error: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
    exit 1
}

Write-Host "Installing Visual C++ Redistributable..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
Start-Process -FilePath $vcRedistPath -ArgumentList "/quiet", "/norestart" -Wait

Write-Host "Step 2: Downloading required files for winget..." -ForegroundColor Cyan

# URLs for the files
$wingetUrl = "https://github.com/microsoft/winget-cli/releases/download/v1.10.340/Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msixbundle"
$licenseUrl = "https://github.com/microsoft/winget-cli/releases/download/v1.10.340/4df037184d634a28b13051a797a25a16_License1.xml"
$vclibsUrl = "https://github.com/QuangVNMC/LTSC-Add-Microsoft-Store/raw/master/Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop_14.0.33728.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.Appx"
$xamlNugetUrl = "https://www.nuget.org/api/v2/package/Microsoft.UI.Xaml/2.7.0"

# File paths
$wingetPath = "$tempDir\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller.msixbundle"
$licensePath = "$tempDir\License1.xml"
$vclibsPath = "$tempDir\Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop_14.0.33728.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe.Appx"
$xamlNugetPath = "$tempDir\Microsoft.UI.Xaml.2.7.0.nuget"
$xamlZipPath = "$tempDir\Microsoft.UI.Xaml.2.7.0.zip"
$xamlAppxPath = "$tempDir\Microsoft.UI.Xaml.2.7.appx"

# Download the files
Write-Host "Downloading Winget package..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
try {
    Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $wingetUrl -OutFile $wingetPath -UseBasicParsing
} catch {
    Write-Host "Failed to download Winget package. Error: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
    exit 1
}

Write-Host "Downloading license file..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
try {
    Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $licenseUrl -OutFile $licensePath -UseBasicParsing
} catch {
    Write-Host "Failed to download license file. Error: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
    exit 1
}

Write-Host "Downloading VCLibs..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
try {
    Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $vclibsUrl -OutFile $vclibsPath -UseBasicParsing
} catch {
    Write-Host "Failed to download VCLibs. Error: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
    exit 1
}

Write-Host "Downloading Microsoft.UI.Xaml..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
try {
    Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $xamlNugetUrl -OutFile $xamlNugetPath -UseBasicParsing
} catch {
    Write-Host "Failed to download Microsoft.UI.Xaml. Error: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
    exit 1
}

Write-Host "Step 3: Processing dependencies..." -ForegroundColor Cyan

# Process the Xaml Nuget package
Write-Host "Processing Microsoft.UI.Xaml package..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
Copy-Item $xamlNugetPath $xamlZipPath
Expand-Archive -Path $xamlZipPath -DestinationPath "$tempDir\xaml" -Force
Copy-Item "$tempDir\xaml\tools\AppX\x64\Release\Microsoft.UI.Xaml.2.7.appx" $xamlAppxPath

# Install the dependencies
Write-Host "Step 4: Installing dependencies..." -ForegroundColor Cyan

Write-Host "Installing VCLibs..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
try {
    Add-AppxPackage -Path $vclibsPath
} catch {
    Write-Host "Failed to install VCLibs. Error: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
    exit 1
}

Write-Host "Installing Microsoft.UI.Xaml..." -ForegroundColor Yellow
try {
    Add-AppxPackage -Path $xamlAppxPath
} catch {
    Write-Host "Failed to install Microsoft.UI.Xaml. Error: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
    exit 1
}

# Install Winget with license
Write-Host "Step 5: Installing Winget..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
try {
    Add-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online -PackagePath $wingetPath -LicensePath $licensePath -Verbose
} catch {
    Write-Host "Failed to install Winget. Error: $_" -ForegroundColor Red
    exit 1
}

Write-Host "Step 6: Setting up system access..." -ForegroundColor Cyan

# Create a directory for symlinks if it doesn't exist
$symlinksDir = "$env:SystemDrive\Tools"
if (!(Test-Path $symlinksDir)) {
    New-Item -ItemType Directory -Path $symlinksDir -Force | Out-Null
}

# Find the actual winget.exe path
$wingetExePath = (Get-ChildItem -Path "$env:ProgramFiles\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller*" -Recurse -Filter "winget.exe" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue | Select-Object -First 1 -ExpandProperty FullName)

if (-not $wingetExePath) {
    Write-Host "Could not find winget.exe in WindowsApps directory." -ForegroundColor Red
    exit 1
}

Write-Host "Found winget at: $wingetExePath" -ForegroundColor Green

# Create a batch file wrapper for winget in an accessible location
$batchPath = "$symlinksDir\winget.bat"
@"
@echo off
"$wingetExePath" %*
"@ | Out-File -FilePath $batchPath -Encoding ASCII -Force

Write-Host "Created batch wrapper at: $batchPath" -ForegroundColor Green

# Add the Tools directory to the PATH if not already present
$currentPath = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", "Machine")
if ($currentPath -notlike "*$symlinksDir*") {
    [Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", "$currentPath;$symlinksDir", "Machine")
    Write-Host "Added $symlinksDir to system PATH" -ForegroundColor Green
} else {
    Write-Host "$symlinksDir is already in system PATH" -ForegroundColor Yellow
}

# Temporarily add to current session PATH
$env:PATH = "$env:PATH;$symlinksDir"

# Try to set permissions for current user to access winget directly
try {
    # Get the parent directory of winget.exe
    $wingetDir = Split-Path -Parent $wingetExePath
    
    # Add read & execute permissions for current user
    $acl = Get-Acl $wingetDir
    $currentUser = [System.Security.Principal.WindowsIdentity]::GetCurrent().Name
    $accessRule = New-Object System.Security.AccessControl.FileSystemAccessRule($currentUser, "ReadAndExecute", "ContainerInherit,ObjectInherit", "None", "Allow")
    $acl.AddAccessRule($accessRule)
    Set-Acl $wingetDir $acl
    Write-Host "Added permissions for current user to access winget directly" -ForegroundColor Green
} catch {
    Write-Host "Could not set permissions for direct access to winget.exe. The batch wrapper will still work." -ForegroundColor Yellow
}

# Clean up
Write-Host "Step 7: Cleaning up..." -ForegroundColor Cyan
Set-Location $env:USERPROFILE
Remove-Item -Path $tempDir -Recurse -Force -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

Write-Host "`n=== Installation Complete ===" -ForegroundColor Green
Write-Host "The winget command is now available through:" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "1. The batch file: $batchPath" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "2. Simply typing 'winget' in a new command prompt or PowerShell session" -ForegroundColor Cyan
Write-Host "`nPlease restart your command prompt or PowerShell window to start using winget." -ForegroundColor Yellow
Write-Host "To test, open a new window and type: winget --version" -ForegroundColor Yellow