Resolving Error: 0x80370114 The operation could not be started because a required feature is not installed.

Question

(Windows 10 2022H2)

I am really stuck on this error, is there anything else I can try? Is there anything I can try? I seem to be unable to update WSL.

Running in Powershell:

wsl --update

returns

WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x80370114

Error: 0x80370114 The operation could not be started because a required feature is not installed.

I have tried multiple variations of ensuring virtualization is turned on, and enabling various related features, following the steps in the below answers.

Running:

wsl --set-default-version 2

returns 'The operation completed successfully.'

However from wsl -v:

WSL version: 1.1.3.0

Update 9/3: Following some of the early steps here (https://softwaretested.com/windows/wslregisterdistribution-failed-with-error-0x80370114/) I can see that it states to:

1. Find the Hyper-V Host Compute service by going to this path: C:\WINDOWS\System32\vmcompute.exe.

vmcompute.exe isn't running or found on my machine (even though many Hyper-V services are). This probably is part of the issue?

Referencing:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/insider/forum/all/wsl-2-installing-linux-failed-error-code/bae391d1-4215-4d93-b0c4-3d96404a7c74

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/66091744/docker-failed-to-start/68768646#68768646

Answer 1

I ran into this exact issue today. I managed to resolve it by using the Control Panel (not settings) to turn windows features on or off and enable Virtual Machine Platform. This gave me vmcompute.exe as expected and I was able to follow the subsequent steps for troubleshooting to fix the issue

Answer 2

I've found that the reason for this error was that the Virtual Machine Platform was not remaining enabled due to a windows update error (features were being rolled back at install following the reboot).

Reinstalling windows seems to have resolved this, WMP remains enabled now, and then wsl --install is successful.

Answer 3

I've found that the reason for this error was that the Virtual Machine Platform was not remaining enabled due to a windows update error (features were being rolled back at install following the reboot).

Reinstalling windows seems to have resolved this, WMP remains enabled now, and then wsl --install is successful.

Answer 4

My Virtual Machine Platform checkbox was checked, but Hyper-V wasn't checked, which is essential in running WSL I guess, because when I checked it, my computer required to be restarted, and then it worked.