WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x8007023e

[nahcnuj]

Version

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19045.2364]

WSL Version

• WSL 2
• WSL 1

Kernel Version

5.15.79.1

Distro Version

No response

Other Software

No response

Repro Steps

>wsl.exe --install Ubuntu-20.04

Expected Behavior

It will launch Ubuntu 20.04.

Actual Behavior

>wsl.exe --install Ubuntu-20.04
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS は既にインストールされています。
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS を開始しています...

Installing, this may take a few minutes...
WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x8007023e
Error: 0x8007023e {???????? ???}
?? s (0x
Press any key to continue...

Diagnostic Logs

WslLogs-2022-12-22_21-51-19.zip, collected by the recommended way.

[DarwinJS]

I'm getting the same - seems like no way around it.

The Windows Feature "Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux" is disabled and attempts to enable it with dism result in:

[DarwinJS]

Enabling through the GUI Windows Features works, but then attempts to use it are weird.

When you try to run "wsl" or do "wsl --list" you get

Error code: Wsl/WSL_E_DEFAULT_DISTRO_NOT_FOUND

But then If I do wsl --install Ubuntu I get:

Then in the new window, it says:

I have run wsl --update and installed the wsl kernel update 5.10.102.2 from https://www.catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=wsl

The LxssManager service was in a manual start state.

When I set it to automatic and reboot - it shows stopped (but the start mode is changed to automatic).

When I try to manually start it, I get

[ghost]

Did you already try dism /online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:VirtualMachinePlatform /all?

[OneBlue]

Thanks for reporting this @DarwinJS. Based on the output it looks like the WSL feature is in a weird state.

Does disabling the feature, rebooting, and re-enabling it helps ?

[DarwinJS]

Thanks for reporting this @DarwinJS. Based on the output it looks like the WSL feature is in a weird state.

Does disabling the feature, rebooting, and re-enabling it helps ?

Solved in #9394

[ghost]

Closing in favor of the above mentioned bug.

[chazix]

I started encountering this exact error today. My WSL2 was working, then it appears to have just stopped.
My attempts so far include:

• disabling features: hyperV, virtual machine platform, windows subsystem for linux, reboot
• enabling features: hyperV, virtual machine platform, windows subsystem for linux, reboot
• same error

next attempt was a fresh install:

• uninstalled ubuntu distributions
• uninstalled all WSL that was available
• reboot
• admin powershell > wsl --install > reboot
• wsl --set-default-version 2
• wsl --install Ubuntu-18.04
• WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x8007023e
  WslLogs-2023-03-03_02-33-12.zip

No clue what's going on, but it's very concerning how this appears broken & my workflow depends on it.

I was able to install Ubuntu-18.04 as WSL 1, however - I want to use WSL 2. When attempting to set to wsl2:

• wsl --set-version Ubuntu-18.04 2
  I now receive this error: Error code: Wsl/Service/CreateVm/ConfigureNetworking/0x8007023e
  WslLogs-2023-03-03_03-27-44.zip
• this occurs with both the Hyper-V feature enabled & disabled
• I also made sure the LxssManager was running at the time of this log zip

[ghost]

@chazix, thanks for the logs

[kylerchin]

Hello, I'm having this issue too.

[kylerchin]

WslLogs-2023-03-13_23-12-55.zip
Here are my log files regarding this issue.

Edition Windows 11 Home Insider Preview
Version 22H2
Installed on ‎2023-‎03-‎10
OS build 25314.1010
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.25314.1010.0

Processor 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1255U 2.60 GHz
Installed RAM 16.0 GB (15.8 GB usable)
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch Pen and touch support with 10 touch points

[stevengpn]

same, after disabling and enabling all virtual things features, and running below, still no luck:
PS C:\Windows\system32> wsl --install
Installing: Ubuntu
Ubuntu has been installed.
Launching Ubuntu...
Installing, this may take a few minutes...
WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x8007023e
Error: 0x8007023e {??????}
???????? s (0x
Press any key to continue...
The installation process for distribution 'Ubuntu' failed with exit code: 1.
Error code: Wsl/InstallDistro/WSL_E_INSTALL_PROCESS_FAILED
PS C:\Windows\system32> wsl --update
Checking for updates.
The most recent version of Windows Subsystem for Linux is already installed.
PS C:\Windows\system32> wsl --install Ubuntu
Ubuntu is already installed.
Launching Ubuntu...
Installing, this may take a few minutes...
WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x8007023e
Error: 0x8007023e {??????}
???????? s (0x
Press any key to continue...

[CalebMcNevin]

I am also having the exact same experience as @stevengpn. Anyone find a workaround?

[CalebMcNevin]

In the event that this helps anyone, the only way I was able to get WSL working again was by deleting the registry key Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\WSLService and disabling/re-enabling wsl in Windows Features

[zoma00]

same error for wsl