Missing winget.exe on server 2019 install

[matsmcp]

Brief description of your issue

I'm trying to install winget on a server2019 box to start eval if winget may be the right product to solve in issue we have (CDN kind of thing)

Steps to reproduce

install a server 2019 ( I used the en_windows_server_2019_updated_nov_2020_x64_dvd_8600b05f.iso media)
I then tried to install Winget using Add-AppxPackage .\desktop\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe.appxbundle

It gave me an Error about missing Visual C so I went to https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/cpp/c-runtime-packages-desktop-bridge#how-to-install-and-update-desktop-framework-packages and downloaded the X64 package.

That package was installed with Add-AppxPackage .\desktop\Microsoft.VCLibs.x64.14.00.Desktop.appx
After that the Add-AppxPackage .\desktop\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe.appxbundle ran without any errors

The system was rebooted and now I expected winget to work in a cmd window. It does not.
C:\Users\Administrator>winget
'winget' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

to verify that the exe is missing
C:>dir /S winget.*
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 0AE8-B414
File Not Found

C:>

Expected behavior

winget starting

Actual behavior

See reproduce

Environment

Server 2019
Build: 17763.1577
Server installed for this test so only server 2019 iso (desktop experience) + Microsoft.VCLibs.x64.14.00.Desktop.appx + Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_8wekyb3d8bbwe.appxbundle installed
User: Administrator
Stand-alone server so no GPO or desired state

[nataz77]

I'm having the same issue on a fresh new Server 2019 VM, but I'm not sure if winget it's supposed to work on Server versions.
The README says:

The client requires Windows 10 1709 (build 16299) or later at this time.

so, build-wise Server 2019 should be fine.

I tried following the solutions found in #210, and what I found is that even though the execution alias is registered and enabled, the
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\ folder is empty.

Again, I'm not sure winget has been tested and it's supposed to work on Server versions.

[Karl-WE]

see also #702

[codefromthecrypt]

@denelon please prioritize this so that it doesn't slip further. While there is a workaround from @al-cheb, and I appreciate it, it is a pile of copy/paste which everyone will need to do meanwhile actions/runner-images#910 (comment)

[Karl-WE]

very much our customers would be amazed if we could provide winget as a unified solution for updating their public apps. Many of these do not afford patchmypc, configmgr etc.

Server 2019 and Server 2022 should be supported and I do not see many technical restrictions.
I have tried to install it manually and it works, something more offical would be great.

[unquietwiki]

Using the page @Karl-WE posted on another comment, I do notice for my environment, C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_1.12.11692.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe was generated; but the EXEs act like #1328. I also am unclear how these EXE names translate to WinGet in the first place.

PS C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_1.12.11692.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe> .\AppInstaller.exe
Program 'AppInstaller.exe' failed to run: Access is deniedAt line:1 char:1
+ .\AppInstaller.exe
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
At line:1 char:1
+ .\AppInstaller.exe
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ResourceUnavailable: (:) [], ApplicationFailedException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : NativeCommandFailed

PS C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.DesktopAppInstaller_1.12.11692.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe> .\AppInstallerCLI.exe
Program 'AppInstallerCLI.exe' failed to run: Access is deniedAt line:1 char:1
+ .\AppInstallerCLI.exe
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
At line:1 char:1
+ .\AppInstallerCLI.exe
+ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    + CategoryInfo          : ResourceUnavailable: (:) [], ApplicationFailedException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : NativeCommandFailed

Edit: looks like #712 is more like this error.

[Karl-WE]

I have tried it again on a Server 2022 release but no luck. This time it tells me I have a missing license when running winget.

[Karl-WE]

"how this exe names translate to winget".
There's a thing in settings app called app alias. I believe this is responsible.
@unquietwiki