microsoft / microsoft/WSL

WSL cannot be started: Failed to attach disk 'F:\vhds\Ubuntu-24.04\ext4.vhdx' to WSL2: Access is denied. Error code: Wsl/Service/CreateInstance/MountDisk/HCS/E_ACCESSDENIED

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Description

### Windows Version

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.26200.7985]

### WSL Version

2.5.9.0

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

- [x] WSL 2
- [ ] WSL 1

### Kernel Version

Ubuntu-24.04

### Distro Version

Ubuntu-24.04

### Other Software

_No response_

### Repro Steps

I terminated the WSL session with `wsl --shutdown`. when I tried to restart it with WSL I get the following error

```
Failed to attach disk 'F:\vhds\Ubuntu-24.04\ext4.vhdx' to WSL2: Access is denied.
Error code: Wsl/Service/CreateInstance/MountDisk/HCS/E_ACCESSDENIED
```

### Expected Behavior

after shutdown, WSL should start as expected

### Actual Behavior

I terminated the WSL session with `wsl --shutdown`. when I tried to restart it with WSL I get the following error

```
Failed to attach disk 'F:\vhds\Ubuntu-24.04\ext4.vhdx' to WSL2: Access is denied.
Error code: Wsl/Service/CreateInstance/MountDisk/HCS/E_ACCESSDENIED
```

### Diagnostic Logs

[WslLogs-2026-03-26_09-21-25.zip](https://github.com/user-attachments/files/26283880/WslLogs-2026-03-26_09-21-25.zip)

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

Start with the attached WslLogs-2026-03-26_09-21-25.zip and reproduce the failure by running `wsl --shutdown`, then starting the Ubuntu-24.04 distribution. Trace the disk-attach failure for `F:\vhds\Ubuntu-24.04\ext4.vhdx`; done means identifying the cause of E_ACCESSDENIED and documenting or implementing a verified fix.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
linux, ubuntu
Domain
operating-systems
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Quiet
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
38/100

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