Ubuntu causes Data area passed to a system call is too small.

[lucasfolino]

When trying to run the ubuntu exe I receive and error:
The data area passed to a system call is too small.
I have tried uninstalling ubuntu and reinstalling from the store but I am still getting this issue. Other store applications run fine.

[benhillis]

Thanks for reporting, would it be possible for you to collect logs so we can determine what is going wrong?

https://github.com/Microsoft/WSL/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING.md#8-detailed-logs

[lucasfolino]

I followed the instructions and sent the 3 files to the address outlined in the document.

[lucasfolino]

I don't know if there will be any data though. It seems to crash before it even starts.

[asydneylover]

I got the same issue after installing from Windows Store yesterday, tried restart Windows several times but it still does not work

[lucasfolino]

Yes. Both give me the go to the store. When I go to the store to install Ubuntu it has launch because I already installed it.

Here is exact message:

Windows Subsystem for Linux has no installed distributions.
Distributions can be installed by visiting the Windows Store:
https://aka.ms/wslstore
Press any key to continue...

[benhillis]

@lucasfolino - Just to make sure, after installing the distro from the store did you launch the tile?

[lucasfolino]

Yes I tried launching the tile, and from the command line. I also tried running it as administrator.

[lgirvin]

I am experiencing the same problem, Windows version 10.0.17074.1002.

[lucasfolino]

Been researching this on my own and wanted to bring this up. I have found this article and I do have SQL with filestream enabled. Could this be the issue?

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/sql_server_team/centennial-appsdesktop-bridge-sql-server-and-error-the-data-area-passed-to-a-system-call-is-too-small/

[lucasfolino]

After further investigation stopping the SQL server instance seems to allow me to start the Ubuntu Application.

[benhillis]

@lucasfolino - Thanks for the investigation, I hadn't considered a poorly behaving filter driver could explain this issue. Each distro's launcher app (ubuntu.exe etc) is a centennial application so that explains what you are seeing. It looks like the SQL team is aware of the issue so hopefully they can issue a fix soon.

[lucasfolino]

There seems to be some updates on this issue. According to the original articles there are now updates for SQL 2017,2016,and 2014.

[benhillis]

@lucasfolino - Good to know. Have you tried the new version of SQL to verify this is no longer broken?

[lgirvin]

@benhillis – I installed Cumulative Update 5 for SQL Server 2017 today and it fixed the problem for me.

[lucasfolino]

I have SQL 2014,2016, and 2017 installed on my dev machine. The CUs fixed this issue on my machine.

[benhillis]

Great, thank you both. Marking this as closed.

[therealkenc]

By-design tag maybe? In other words, is there confirmation this was "a poorly behaving filter driver" which was subsequently addressed outside of WSL's wheelhouse? It still isn't clear from this issue thread what was broken or if anything was fixed in WSL.

[benhillis]

@therealkenc - How about "external"?

[Reanmachine]

@benhillis I'm sorry to possibly necro this ticket, but I'm experiencing this behavior in July now with SQL 2017 CU9.

Ubuntu can't launch with this error message when my FILESTREAM enabled MSSQL service is running, but can when it's disabled.

I'm well past the CU listed in the workaround above, since this is a SQL team problem is there a place this is tracked for the MSSQL team I can assist them with logs or let them know this may have regressed?

[OvisMaximus]

Nearly September 2018, I can't start ubuntu nor debian. I still get "Program 'ubuntu.exe' failed to run: The data area passed to a system call is too smallAt line:1 char:1"

Since I have not installed any MSSQL Server for development purposes, I deactivated every service of other applications containing the string "SQL". Sad to say, without success.

Feels like these days in the 90's when cooperative scheduling of Windows made your day a hell. Shouldn't the OS encapsulate processes from each other? Why are these interacting with each other?