microsoft / microsoft/WSL

The specified service does not exist as an installed service.

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Description

### Windows Version

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.22631.3958]

### WSL Version

2.3.17.0

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

- [X] WSL 2
- [ ] WSL 1

### Kernel Version

_No response_

### Distro Version

Ubuntu

### Other Software

_No response_

### Repro Steps

Run `wsl --install` and the error is provided:
```none
Ubuntu is already installed.
Launching Ubuntu...
Installing, this may take a few minutes...
WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x80070424
Error: 0x80070424 The specified service does not exist as an installed service.
```
Alternatively, launch "Ubuntu" in the Windows Terminal gives:
```none
Installing, this may take a few minutes...
WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x80070424
Error: 0x80070424 The specified service does not exist as an installed service.

Press any key to continue...
```
Pressing any key then gives:
```none
[process exited with code 1 (0x00000001)]
You can now close this terminal with Ctrl+D, or press Enter to restart.
```

### Expected Behavior

Ubuntu is launched successfully

### Actual Behavior

Ubuntu does not launch

### Diagnostic Logs

[WslLogs-2024-09-13_13-12-28.zip](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/16993675/WslLogs-2024-09-13_13-12-28.zip)

I've read multiple existing other issues logged on this (linked at the end), none have worked. A non exhaustive list of things I've tried:
1. Uninstalled WSL and installed
2. Uninstalled WSL, Uninstalled Virtual Machine Platform, reinstalled both
3. Attempt a repair, however, WSL does not appear in Settings/Applications
4. Attempt to enble VMP from command line
```shell
dism.exe /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /all /norestart
```
5. Install WSL1.0 (with plans to upgrade to 2.0) but 1.0 failed too.

And a non-exhaustive list of other issues I've read:
1. https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/issues/11233
2. https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/issues/10623
3. https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/issues/10754
4. https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/issues/10760

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

No source file, test, or code entry point is named. Start by reviewing WslLogs-2024-09-13_13-12-28.zip and reproducing the failure with `wsl --install` or the Ubuntu Windows Terminal entry. Done means identifying the missing service causing 0x80070424 and confirming that Ubuntu launches successfully after the fix.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
ubuntu
Domain
operating-systems
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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