Fix WSL error Wsl/Service/CreateInstance/MountVhd/ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND — by kshashank on Super User

intermediateforumCC BY-SA (Stack Exchange; version depends on post date)Windows 11

This error happens when WSL still has a distro registered but its virtual disk is gone, for example after reinstalling WSL. The fix is to unregister the stale distro and launch it again from the Microsoft Store. Warning: unregistering permanently deletes that distro's files.

Quick steps

List distros: wsl -l
Unregister the broken one (this deletes it): wsl --unregister <DistroName>
Reinstall or launch the distro from the Microsoft Store

Paraphrased from the source. Menus can differ by version, so check the original for full details.

Read the full thread on superuser.com

Source: Fix WSL error Wsl/Service/CreateInstance/MountVhd/ERROR_FILE_NOT_FOUND by kshashank on Super User. Licence: CC BY-SA (Stack Exchange; version depends on post date).

Source reviewed: 2026-11-02
Link checked: Not yet
Tested hands-on: Not by Oddbyte.Me

wslwsl2linux on windows

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