How to fix fresh WSL install "WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x80370114"
Nov 21
I have Windows 11 and I had WSL working fine, until I had to do a PC Reset and now trying to install it again from scratch. This is what I get now (after multiple WSL installation attempts):
PS > wsl --install
Windows Subsystem for Linux is already installed.
The following is a list of valid distributions that can be installed.
Install using 'wsl.exe --install <Distro>'.
NAME FRIENDLY NAME
Ubuntu Ubuntu
Debian Debian GNU/Linux
kali-linux Kali Linux Rolling
SLES-12 SUSE Linux Enterprise Server v12
SLES-15 SUSE Linux Enterprise Server v15
Ubuntu-18.04 Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
Ubuntu-20.04 Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
OracleLinux_8_5 Oracle Linux 8.5
OracleLinux_7_9 Oracle Linux 7.9
PS > wsl --install Ubuntu-20.04
Installing: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS has been installed.
Launching Ubuntu 20.04 LTS...
PS > wsl list
Windows Subsystem for Linux has no installed distributions.
Use 'wsl.exe --list --online' to list available distributions
and 'wsl.exe --install <Distro>' to install.
Distributions can also be installed by visiting the Microsoft Store:
https://aka.ms/wslstore
Error code: Wsl/Service/CreateInstance/GetDefaultDistro/WSL_E_DEFAULT_DISTRO_NOT_FOUND
If I run the Ubuntu app, I get:
Installing, this may take a few minutes...
WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x80370114
Error: 0x80370114 The operation could not be started because a required feature is not installed.
Press any key to continue...
Under "Turn Windows features on or off" I have enabled:
[x] Virtual Machine Platform
[x] Windows Hypervisor Platform
[x] Windows Subsystem for Linux
By the way, I only turned on "Windows Hypervisor Platform" later, as an experiment. I saw answers on GitHub and elsewhere related to vmcompute.exe but I don't have that on my system, do I need to install it, and if so, how?!
PS > ls C:\Windows\System32\vm*
Directory: C:\Windows\System32
Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
-a---- 07/05/2022 06:20 50528 VmApplicationHealthMonitorProxy.dll
-a---- 21/11/2022 19:41 79896 vmbuspipe.dll
-a---- 07/05/2022 06:20 270336 vmdevicehost.dll
-a---- 07/05/2022 06:20 87400 vmictimeprovider.dll
-a---- 07/05/2022 06:20 487424 vmrdvcore.dll
Even though already enabled, also tried the accepted answer on a similar question, but no difference:
PS > dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /all /norestart
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.22621.1
Image Version: 10.0.22621.819
Enabling feature(s)
[==========================100.0%==========================]
The operation completed successfully.
PS > dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart
Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool
Version: 10.0.22621.1
Image Version: 10.0.22621.819
Enabling feature(s)
[==========================100.0%==========================]
The operation completed successfully.
So what is the solution here? The forum answers didn't help me, and the MS documentation sounds like all that's needed is a magic wsl --install.
System information:
Edition Windows 11 Home
Version 22H2
OS build 22621.819
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22636.1000.0
Any suggestions are appreciated, otherwise I'll share the solution I find later. Going to install some updates now, and will see if that helps.
1 answer
Accepted answer · original discussion
Nov 21
Installed the Windows updates, and after restarting the Ubuntu installation resumed. Now WSL works!
And now I have:
PS > ls C:\Windows\System32\vmcompute*
Directory: C:\Windows\System32
Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
-a---- 21/11/2022 19:41 796000 vmcompute.dll
-a---- 21/11/2022 19:41 4158848 vmcompute.exe
-a---- 07/05/2022 08:16 42344 vmcomputeeventlog.dll
Really simple, but I am glad, and hope it's helpful to someone.
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