---
title: Install Quartus Prime and WSL for GeMRTOS Nios V on Windows
description: "The GeMRTOS design flow for **Nios V** FPGA development uses command-line tools that require a Linux-compatible environment on Windows. Versions of Quartus Prime above v22.0 use the **Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)** instead of the legacy Cygwin environment. This guide…"
url: "https://rcayssials.hopto.org/gemrtosdocs/installation-of-quartus-prime-with-wsl-1-for-gemrtos-design-flow/"
updated: "2026-06-01"
category: "GeMRTOS - Getting started"
tags:
  - Avalon MM
  - GeMRTOS
  - Nios 2
  - Nios V
  - "RISC-V"
---

# Install Quartus Prime and WSL for GeMRTOS Nios V on Windows

The GeMRTOS design flow for **Nios V** FPGA development uses command-line tools that require a Linux-compatible environment on Windows. Versions of Quartus Prime above v22.0 use the **Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)** instead of the legacy Cygwin environment. This guide covers the complete installation of Quartus Prime v22.0 and WSL on Windows 10 64-bit, including the Ubuntu 18.04 distribution and all build tools required for the GeMRTOS design flow.

## Step 1: Download and Install Quartus Prime

From the intel.com website, download **Quartus Prime v22.0** (or later) with Questa — Intel Starter Edition. Select the desired FPGA device families during installation and follow all installation instructions to completion.

## Step 2: Install and Configure WSL

Run **PowerShell as Administrator** and execute the following steps in order.

1. **Install WSL:**

   ```
   wsl --install
   ```

   In Windows Features, ensure the **Windows Subsystem for Linux** option is enabled.

   ![Windows Features dialog showing the Windows Subsystem for Linux option enabled](https://rcayssials.hopto.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/WSL.png)
2. **Restart WSL to apply changes:**

   ```
   wsl --shutdown
   ```
3. **Install Ubuntu 18.04** (username and password required):

   ```
   wsl --install -d Ubuntu-18.04    (username and password is required)
   ```

   To check available distributions before installing:

   ```
   wsl --list --online
   ```

   ```
   Note: in virtual machines, error 0x80370102 may occur. It is solved by executing:
       wsl --update
       wsl --set-default-version 1
       wsl --shutdown
   and then trying again
       wsl --install -d Ubuntu-18.04
   ```
4. **Configure the WSL environment for GeMRTOS** (confirm all prompts):

   ```
   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install wsl
   sudo apt install dos2unix
   sudo apt install make
   sudo apt install build-essential
   ```

## Key Takeaways

- Quartus Prime versions above v22.0 use **WSL** for GeMRTOS command-line design flow on Windows — Cygwin is only required for older versions.
- WSL must be installed and restarted (`wsl --shutdown`) before adding a Linux distribution; skipping the restart is a common cause of installation failures.
- The GeMRTOS design flow requires **Ubuntu 18.04** plus four packages: `wsl`, `dos2unix`, `make`, and `build-essential`.
- On virtual machines, error **0x80370102** can be resolved with `wsl --update` and `wsl --set-default-version 1` before retrying the Ubuntu installation.
- Once installed, use **gemrtos_build.sh** within the WSL environment to execute the full GeMRTOS Nios V build and programming flow.

**Reference:** \[1\] "2.3.1. Installing Windows\* Subsystem for Linux\* (WSL) on Windows\*," *Intel*. https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/docs/programmable/683472/22-1/installing-windows-subsystem-for-linux.html