New to IntelliJ. Attempting to create a new project fails on first run.

https://intellij-support.jetbrains.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/4404620007186-IntelliJ-IDEA-2021-2-New-Project-Dialog-doesn-t-open

https://intellij-support.jetbrains.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/115000455690-IntelliJ-hangs-when-creating-a-new-project?input_string=New%20to%20IntelliJ.%20%20Attempting%20to%20create%20a%20new%20project%20fails%20on%20first%20run.%20%20Please

I've looked at the above articles and it mentioned to have the Gradle plugin enabled.  It is enabled.  The Kotlin plugin was enabled as well.

I'm a brand new IntelliJ user, simply trying to create a new project, but I get no dialog box with new project options, and no indicator that a new project was created.  Sometimes I'll get a dialog box saying something along the lines of executing WSL process, but after that, I the original welcome dialog (New Project/Open Project/Open from VCS/etc.) remains.

I'm creating a new ticket because either the solution presented in other tickets aren't working, or I just don't understand what they are saying.

I just want to open a new project and use the IDE!  Why can't I get a first run to work out of the box?  I'm frustrated because I've spent an hour trying to get this to work with no avail.

I tried version 2022.1.3 and it failed, then uninstalled and reinstalled it, and it still failed.  I then tried installing 2021.3.3 to experience the same problem.  I would go back and continue to try earlier versions, but my time is limited.

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The following doesn't have to do with the ticket, but I'm ultimately trying to get Kotlin up and running, but the official website says that the recommended way to get started with Kotlin is to get the IntelliJ IDE working.

Sure, I could download the Kotlin command line compiler, but I don't want to do that.  I want IntelliJ to work, simply because I downloaded it and expected it to work, but from the perspective of a new user, it doesn't.  I'll figure out the Kotlin stuff when I can get my IDE to run.