microsoft / microsoft/WSL

Cannot install WSL on latest Windows Insider dev build

Open
#11,327 27 comments 2 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
install
Dominant language
C++
Stars
33.7k
Forks
1.8k
Avg merge
3d 17h
Merged PRs (30d)
116

Description

### Windows Version

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.26080.1400]

### WSL Version

2.1.5

### Are you using WSL 1 or WSL 2?

- [X] WSL 2
- [X] WSL 1

### Kernel Version

N/A

### Distro Version

N/A

### Other Software

Docker Desktop (Docker version 25.0.3, build 4debf41)

### Repro Steps

I recently updated to the latest Windows Insider dev build, which is Windows 11 Insider Preview 10.0.26080.1201 (ge_release_upr). After updating Windows, I ran `wsl --update`, which caused the "Catastrophic failure" error and completely broke my WSL setup. It seems like the failed update uninstalled WSL and I can't reinstall it.

### Expected Behavior

I expected WSL to install successfully.

### Actual Behavior

Running any WSL command produces the following output.
```
Windows Subsystem for Linux must be updated to the latest version to proceed. You can update by running 'wsl.exe --update'.
For more information please visit https://aka.ms/wslinstall

Press any key to install Windows Subsystem for Linux.
Press CTRL-C or close this window to cancel.
This prompt will time out in 60 seconds.
Operation aborted
```

Running `wsl --update` or `wsl --install` produces the following output.
```
Downloading: Windows Subsystem for Linux 2.1.5
Installing: Windows Subsystem for Linux 2.1.5
Catastrophic failure
```

Manually downloading the MSI from the GitHub releases shows these error messages.
![image](https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/assets/73856503/9c589785-868b-48e1-b4ac-c4f416b00e87)
![image](https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/assets/73856503/8f8807d0-0742-4890-885a-45edfb18da0b)
![image](https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/assets/73856503/0c969cd6-e13a-48ca-bfed-09e03b8876fc)

### Diagnostic Logs

Logs from running `wsl --install`: [WslLogs-2024-03-19_19-06-02.zip](https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/files/14657801/WslLogs-2024-03-19_19-06-02.zip)
WSL install logs from temp folder: [wsl-install-logs.txt](https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/files/14657805/wsl-install-logs.txt) and [MSI65cb2.LOG](https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/files/14657808/MSI65cb2.LOG)

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start by reviewing WslLogs-2024-03-19_19-06-02.zip, wsl-install-logs.txt, and MSI65cb2.LOG, then reproduce with `wsl --update` or `wsl --install` on Windows Insider build 10.0.26080.1400. Done means WSL installs or updates without the “Catastrophic failure” error and subsequent WSL commands run normally.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Domain
operating-systems
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
25/100

Get new issues in your inbox

A short digest of beginner-friendly GitHub issues.