microsoft / microsoft/WSL

Error "HCS_E_HYPERV_NOT_INSTALLED" but eveything is set

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Description

### Windows Version

10.0.26200.6584

### WSL Version

2.6.3.0

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

- [x] WSL 2
- [ ] WSL 1

### Kernel Version

6.6.87.2-1

### Distro Version

None

### Other Software

_No response_

### Repro Steps

- Install from `wsl --install` or use the `.msixbundle`
- simply run initial setup

Install:

Image

After installation:

Image

Version & Status check:

Image

Installing a distro:

Image

Compiling a custom kernel on Ubuntu VMware:

Image

Still not working

Image

I spent a lot of time with an AI bot and a lot of internet articles, and I guess my WSL won't load any kernel

Image

### Expected Behavior

Expected Behavior is to able to install Arch or Ubuntu WSL normally

### Actual Behavior

Can't install distro, can't detect kernels, can't detect "Virtual Machine Platform" feature

### Diagnostic Logs

[WslLogs-2026-03-09_23-09-23.zip](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/25847536/WslLogs-2026-03-09_23-09-23.zip)

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start by reproducing the failure with `wsl --install` or the `.msixbundle` on the reported Windows and WSL versions, then inspect the attached WslLogs-2026-03-09_23-09-23.zip. Compare the reported kernel and Virtual Machine Platform detection failures with the expected WSL 2 setup. Done means Arch or Ubuntu installs successfully without the HCS_E_HYPERV_NOT_INSTALLED error.

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
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
25/100

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