need to completely remove WSL and start over

[mzimmersfluidra]

Windows Version

[Version 10.0.19045.2846]

WSL Version

1.2.5.0

Are you using WSL 1 or WSL 2?

• WSL 2
• WSL 1

Kernel Version

5.15.90.1

Distro Version

Ubuntu-22.04

Other Software

No response

Repro Steps

Open PowerShell as admin
Enter the following commands with the errors shown:
`PS C:\windows\system32> wsl
Windows Subsystem for Linux has no installed distributions.

Use 'wsl.exe --list --online' to list available distributions
and 'wsl.exe --install ' to install.

Distributions can also be installed by visiting the Microsoft Store:
https://aka.ms/wslstore
Error code: Wsl/Service/CreateInstance/GetDefaultDistro/WSL_E_DEFAULT_DISTRO_NOT_FOUND
PS C:\windows\system32> wsl -l -o
The following is a list of valid distributions that can be installed.
Install using 'wsl.exe --install '.

NAME FRIENDLY NAME
Ubuntu Ubuntu
Debian Debian GNU/Linux
kali-linux Kali Linux Rolling
Ubuntu-18.04 Ubuntu 18.04 LTS
Ubuntu-20.04 Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
Ubuntu-22.04 Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
OracleLinux_7_9 Oracle Linux 7.9
OracleLinux_8_7 Oracle Linux 8.7
OracleLinux_9_1 Oracle Linux 9.1
SUSE-Linux-Enterprise-Server-15-SP4 SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4
openSUSE-Leap-15.4 openSUSE Leap 15.4
openSUSE-Tumbleweed openSUSE Tumbleweed
PS C:\windows\system32> wsl --install -d Ubuntu-22.04
Ubuntu 22.04 LTS is already installed.
Launching Ubuntu 22.04 LTS...
Installing, this may take a few minutes...
WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x80070002
Error: 0x80070002 The system cannot find the file specified.`

Expected Behavior

Should be able to install Ubuntu.

Actual Behavior

Get the error 0x80070002.

Also: when I type "wsl" into my search, and right-click to select "Show file location" it opens this directory:
C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\MicrosoftCorporationII.WindowsSubsystemForLinux_1.2.5.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
There is another copy of wsl.exe in Windows\System32, which I suspect is what I want.

I'd like to delete ALL occurrences of WSL and reinstall, but I don't know how to do this.

Thanks...

Diagnostic Logs

none

[danabases]

I have this same issue. I've been trying to remove and reinstall WSL, but I still have an old copy in Windows/System32 with files wsl.exe, wslapi.dll, and wslconfig.exe.

I've tried reinstalling, however, the .wslconfig file is missing in %UserProfile%. I am running the latest version and installed distributions report WSL 2.

The new installation of wsl.exe is in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\MicrosoftCorporationII.WindowsSubsystemForLinux_1.2.5.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe

[microsoft-github-policy-service]

This issue has been automatically closed since it has not had any activity for the past year. If you're still experiencing this issue please re-file this as a new issue or feature request.

Thank you!