I encountered a 'catastrophic failure' error while installing Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) 2.4.12.

Ujvala Taware 0 Reputation points
2025-03-18T13:02:25.8933333+00:00

I encountered a 'catastrophic failure' error while installing Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) 2.4.12. The installation process shows:

downloading: Windows Subsystem for Linux 2.4.12

installing: Windows Subsystem for Linux 2.4.12

catastrophic failure

I tried running wsl --install in PowerShell, but the error persists. What could be the possible causes, and how can I resolve this issue?"

Windows for business | Windows Client for IT Pros | User experience | Other
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  1. Anonymous
    2025-03-19T01:40:44.8966667+00:00

    Hello,

    Run PowerShell as Administrator:

    Ensure you are logged in with an account that has administrative privileges.

    Right-click on PowerShell and select "Run as administrator".

    Try running wsl --install again.

    Update Windows:

    Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update.

    Check for updates and install any pending updates.

    Restart your computer and try the installation again.

    Check for Corrupted Components:

    Open PowerShell as an administrator and run: sfc /scannow

    We recommend you can refer to this link:
    https://github.com/microsoft/WSL/issues/9420

    Have a nice day.

    Best Regards,

    Hania Lian

    ============================================

    If the Answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.

     

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