wsl --install -d ubuntu Error Code: 0x80070520

[Simon-Bertram]

Windows Version

Microsoft Windows 22H2 (OS build 22621.1992)

WSL Version

0.0.0.0

Are you using WSL 1 or WSL 2?

• WSL 2
• WSL 1

Kernel Version

No response

Distro Version

No response

Other Software

Docker Desktop 4.21.1.
Git 2.41.0.3

Repro Steps

1. Installed Docker Desktop 4.21.1. It fails to load and displays the error: Docker Desktop requires a newer WSL kernel version. Update the WSL kernel by running "wsl --update" or follow instructions at https://docs.microsoft.com/windows/wsl/wsl2-kernel
2. When running wsl --update I get the error: A specified logon session does not exist. It may already have been terminated. What does this mean?
3. When I run wsl --list --verbose, I get the message Windows Subsystem for Linux has no installed distributions.
4. When I run wsl --install, I get the message: Windows Subsystem for Linus is already installed. The following is a list of valid distributions that can be installed followed by a list of Linux OS.
5. So I run wsl --install -d ubuntu, but get the error: An error occurred during installation. Distribution Name: 'Ubuntu' Error Code: 0x80070520.
6. WSLLogs attached.
   WslLogs-2023-07-31_14-31-06.zip

Expected Behavior

Shows WSL is enabled.

Actual Behavior

WSLLogs attached.
Installing: Ubuntu
An error occurred during installation. Distribution Name: 'Ubuntu' Error Code: 0x80070520

Diagnostic Logs

WSL logs attached. Thanks.

[Simon-Bertram]

Ran Windows update and it found a Windows Subsystem for Linux Update - 5.10.102.2 and a Windows Subsystem for Linux WSLg Preview 1.0.27. Installed these, restarted and Docker loaded successfully.

[explodoboy]

Quick potential solution to anyone searching off Google:

As a preface, I successfully installed Ubuntu off the Microsoft Store, but decided to make a fresh installation, installing this time from the command line. So, this is for the people who are trying to do a reinstall but encounter the same error.

Try to run the command wsl --update --web-download. In my case, it caused an update to be downloaded and installed, and then I was able to successfully install Ubuntu. I have no idea why, but it worked for me.