You don’t use Synaptic?
I do use synaptic, but out of convenience also like to use Software Store whist avoiding Snaps that may appear there.
The backdrop to my original query was to indicate to someone posting on here that Windows App Support is listed and can be installed direct from Software Store. Good for newbies. So I was shocked not to find it there.
I hope there is a simple solution to the authentication issue affecting the Software Store, that I can try on my Zorin rig tomorrow. I have to go now.
I ran the update yesterday. I never use Software so… I have no frame of reference to compare today vs. yesterday against. However, I just opened Software and Amazon EKS at the top…
Searching Windows App Support yields … nothing?
Do do doooo… lalala dotty…
Ok, Just installed App Support by clicking on some random .exe (Which pretty much did nothing and did not open, btw…)
and Windows App Support now shows listed as installed, if I Scroll All The Way to the Bottom.
Update:
Search “zorin windows app support” in Software.
Yup me too. Consider this:
"zorin windows app support" renders nothing listed in Software Store.
"zorin windows app" renders Windows App Support listed in Software Store.
That was after system boot, when Amazon EKS advert is displayed in Software Store.
Opened terminal and did: sudo gnome-software
Got this:
But then Software opens with Weather advert not Amazon EKS.
Also:
search for "windows app support" correctly displays ... Windows App Support software listing.
So there remains a problem with Software Store displaying correctly consistently on my machine. Doing sudo gnome-software command seems just a work-round until I find a proper solution.
Have you checked your sourceslist?
Also your keys:
sudo apt-key list
e.g.
E4F1 620C ____ ____ ____ F4E6 010E ____ ____
uid [ unknown] Zorin OS (ISO Signing Key) os@zoringroup.com
sub rsa4096 2019-03-03
Software source = Main Server, if that is what you mean.
Keys looked OK similar to that you illustrated, but I have since Reset them to Default for good measure
Whilst I was looking at those in the Software & Updates “Authentication” settings, I had a popup warning that Apps List was out of date or similar (no screenshot) and it was updating the Cache.
Since all that did reboot, but no change. Still get Amazon EKS advert etc.
No, I mean in
/etc/apt/sources.list
and
/etc/apt/sources.list.d
This happens anytime you make any adjustments or changes in the GUI App, it says it must Reload the Information or something like that. It's normal and will happen every time you check or uncheck something.
The Amazon EKS may just be a Software Channel advertisement and nothing more than that...
I wonder if Zorin 16 is dropping Zorin Windows App Support.
Well that is same as looking at Software & Updates “Authentication” settings which I did before.
Not sure what I should be looking for there, but nothing there looks weird or wrong.
Last night I found this item Ubuntu Software Center Not Working? Here Are the Fixes - Make Tech Easier
I first tried:
sudo apt clean
then:
sudo apt update
No change resulted.
then:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade
Reboot for good measure.
Opened Software Store and it looked same again for the "All" software tab.
But then noticed the down arrow under Categories list. That expanded the list to include Utilities. I then found "Windows App Support" listed in that category, correctly showing ticked as installed. Bit more comfortable with that.
Opening the "Installed" software tab. I do not see "Windows App Support", only the components "Play on Linux" and "Winetricks" are listed. Looking back at my screenshots I use as record my installed app's, that is the same.
So it is all there. Just have to remember now to search for "zorin windows app" not "windows app support" or even "zorin windows app support" in Software Store. How weird is that!
I still don't know why @carmar can search for "windows app support" and I cannot.
Long live Synaptic is all I can say. On there it is listed as "zorin-windows-app-support"
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I suspect it is the Amazon EKS stuff that is messing things up. I still don’t have that thing on my store page. I find app support whether I use “windows app support” or “zorin windows app support”. I think that is how it should be since the search for the former should be the superset for the search for the latter.
I suspect that: Amazon EKS == Software (app) permissions issue. So it loads, but with insufficient permissions to do much, and displays the splash (Amazon EKS) that the install came with, rather than going online to see the most recent. I have the Software icon/launcher in my taskbar, but it simply won’t launch from there - I have to go into Terminal and type sudo gnome-software for it to launch. Each time I do that, I get the recent splash (not Amazon EKS) and it works fine… but there are other conveniences (like launching a .deb by double-clicking) that don’t seem to work because of this issue.
Is there a way to bring this to the Zorin bugfix/issues team or process? I’d be happy to explain it in detail, share logs with them or whatever, for fix purposes. Seems like a pretty significant stumbling block for folks moving from Windows (or Mac) > Zorin. I’m technical enough and persistent enough, but lots of folks are not. I’m a convert, but at this point would be pressed to become an evangelist and tell my friends/employees to switch, just because of this. Any advice on how to get Zorin’s attention would be appreciated.
Ah, great! Thanks for letting me know @zabadabadoo. Hopefully they’ll follow on this thread with whatever the fix is. It’s also affecting automatic Software Update, I think - I get prompted, say okay, then get prompted for the same updates the following day.
@AZorin - if I can help with any logs or further information, just let me know.
2 Likes
Thanks everyone for your input on this issue! My apologies for taking so long to get back to you about it.
After some investigation, it appears that the issue stems from a bug in the search function of the Software store (version 3.28) in Zorin OS 15, which sometimes causes inconsistent search results. Different variations of the “Zorin Windows App Support” search query (like “Windows App Support” or “Zorin Windows”) might display the correct result while other variations won’t. This might even vary from session to session (i.e. after closing/killing the Software store and opening it again).
It doesn’t appear to be related to Amazon EKS, which is just a listed app in the Software store.
I’m currently running a pre-production build of Zorin OS 16 (for development) and can confirm that the search function in the newer Software store (version 3.38) is working correctly and is displaying the results much quicker and more reliably. Every variation of the “Zorin Windows App Support” search query displays the correct result at the top of the list, and in every session.
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When will zorin os 16 be released?
1 Like
Opportunist… 
I am sort of glad it has been traced to a bug in Software Store 3.28, not something we have done to break it, and it will be fixed in Z16.
We just have to be patient and wait for testing and evential rollout of Z16, so when it is released, it will be as solid and easy to use as past versions of ZorinOS I have enjoyed.
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Thanks @AZorin for the response, and for the good news about finding/fixing that issue in the next version. Looking forward to that.
I’m still fairly sure that part of the (my, at least) issue is permissions, rather than a bug in the Software store search functionality. The issue goes away when I launch software using sudo gnome-software on my machine, as do other issues I’m experiencing with permissions, installation, using apps.
I’m going to continue running down the permissions issue on my version (v15 Ultimate) until I get them figured out and fixed, and I’ll post any solutions I can come up with. Thanks again for the response.
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