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I have uninstalled wsl on my windows 11 and trying to re-install using wsl --install. After restart i am getting following error

    Failed to attach disk 'C:\Users\<User>\AppData\Local\Packages\CanonicalGroupLimited.Ubuntu_79rhkp1fndgsc\LocalState\ext4.vhdx' to WSL2: The system cannot find the file specified.
Error code: Wsl/Service/CreateInstance/MountVhd/ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND
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2 Answers 2

Reset to default
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From the WSL Github issue on the topic and the resulting discussion thread:

  1. List the distributions installed, by running following in PowerShell.

    wsl -l

  2. Unregister the distribution. Replace the "Ubuntu" below with your distribution name found in Step #1:

    WARNING: THIS COMMAND WILL COMPLETELY UNINSTALL YOUR WSL DISTRO.

    wsl --unregister Ubuntu

  3. Launch the Ubuntu (or other distribution) which was installed using Microsoft Store

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  • 1
    Right on the money @kshashank! Much appreciated ^^
    – brasoares
    Commented Mar 6, 2023 at 23:06
  • 3
    Just a heads up: this command will completely uninstall your WSL distro... I learned this the hard way.
    – Tropilio
    Commented Apr 12, 2023 at 10:34
  • It's a terrible solution and no warning given about it uninstalling your distro. Thankfully I was not stupid enough to do it.
    – Andrew S
    Commented Jan 18 at 5:27
  • @AndrewS Were you able to fix it without losing the distro. I agree this solution is terrible
    – warmwhisky
    Commented Jan 20 at 8:22
  • @warmwhisky, I gave up and installed wsl on my new Windows 11 machine leaving my older Windows 10 broken.
    – Andrew S
    Commented Jan 21 at 3:25
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There are a couple issues on Github regarding this problem: This one, that one, and this other.

The solution is to download the installer and downgrade manually to another version: 2.1.4.0 fixed it for me. You don't have to completely remove your WSL distro.

You can find the releases here.

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