Error code: Wsl/InstallDistro/E_UNEXPECTED - Catastrophic failure

[ronyshaji]

Windows Version

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19045.2965]

WSL Version

1.1.3.0

Are you using WSL 1 or WSL 2?

• WSL 2
• WSL 1

Kernel Version

5.15.90.1

Distro Version

Ubuntu 20.04

Other Software

No response

Repro Steps

I am facing an issue with installation of Ubuntu 20.04 in my wsl. I have earlier installed WSL without any issues on my PC and was running fine with ROS1 and ROS2. But when i tried to uninstall a python verison, it show how corrupted the ubuntu. so i unregistered the older version. And now trying to install new one. But i doubt that the old files are still in my system as I can see the older version of ubuntu in my program and I am not an admin of the PC. But i have admin rights.

What I did was as follows:

wsl --update --web-download

I used --web-download as without arguments was not working.

Then i tried to run the following command:

wsl.exe --install Ubuntu-20.04

and got the error as : >>

Installing: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS has been installed.
Catastrophic failure
Error code: Wsl/InstallDistro/E_UNEXPECTED

What may be reason and how can I install Ubuntu 20.04 ?

I have already turn on:

windows subsystem for linux
virtual environment

Update:

Based on some research, i have tried:
wsl.exe --install Ubuntu-20.04 --web-download

It downloaded the ubuntu and unfortunately another error poped up as shown below:

Expected Behavior

Install Ubuntu 20.04

Actual Behavior

getting error:

Ubuntu 20.04 LTS has been installed.
Catastrophic failure
Error code: Wsl/InstallDistro/E_UNEXPECTED

Diagnostic Logs

No response

[ronyshaji]

@OneBlue Do you have any feedback on this as I saw another incomplete issue here?

[OneBlue]

Interesting. It looks like the ubuntu application is in a bad state. Can you try to uninstall it and then run wsl --install again ?

[ronyshaji]

@OneBlue But in the wsl list, it is showing like this......

and when i try to run the ubuntu 2004.exe i get the following error......

[OneBlue]

@ronyshaji: I'm suggesting to remove the ubuntu application, not the WSL distribution.

You can do that with (elevated powershell):

Get-AppxPackage CanonicalGroupLimited.Ubuntu20.04LTS -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage

[ronyshaji]

@OneBlue It looks like the windowsApp folder is messed up with many installations....

and i try to remove it using Get-AppxPackage CanonicalGroupLimited.Ubuntu20.04LTS -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage an error is coming up in the powershell.......

[OneBlue]

I see. Unfortunately it looks like your machine is just in a bad state. Sadly I think you might to repair / reinstall Windows to solve this.

Closing since this is not a WSL issue.

[pyorot]

I mean when your error message is E_UNEXPECTED, you can't just say perchance reinstall Windows lmao

I get messages like that from Appx all the time; it's not exactly known for its robustness