Forum Discussion
WSL won't install after upgrading to Windows 11 24H2
After unchecking "Windows Subsystem for Linux" in Programs and Features under Control Panel and rebooting.
Next, I moving all the WindowsApps that were installed in "D:\WndowsApps" back to "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" with the "Move" option for each app under Apps > Installed apps in Settings.
I was able to then take ownership (change ownership to "Administrators" and then take "Full control" with my account) of all the directories (and their contents) that contained "Linux" or "Ubuntui" in their names.
I then delete them.
Afterwards, there was nothing installed under "D:\WindowsApps", so I changed the ownership of it to Administrators and then delete it entirely.
I rebooted after doing all this.
I then ran Windows Update and rebooted.
Then, I tried to reinstall WSL and it failed with the same "Catastrophic failure" message.
When I checked D drive afterwards, Windows had recreated "D:\WindowsApps" and tried to install it there instead of on C drive which is where "Where new content is saved" is pointing. Something is set somewhere (I presume in the Registry) telling Windows to try to install it on D drive which, according to various Google results, will always fail as WSL must be installed on the same drive as C:\Windows.
Does anyone know what I need to update in the Registry to make Windows install WSL on C drive?
Using the GetAppx-Package command, check if it is already installed:
Get-AppxPackage *WindowsSubsystemForLinux*
If not try installing directly from the Microsoft Store:https://aka.ms/wslstorepage