WSL2: Virtual hard disk files must be uncompressed and unencrypted and must not be sparse

[squeaky-pl]

Please fill out the below information:

• Your Windows build number: Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.18917.1000]

• What you're doing and what's happening:
  I am trying to launch new distro under WSL2. I did first wsl --set-default-version 2, went to the shop and downloaded Ubuntu. Then I went to Start and clicked Ubuntu. After couple of seconds I was greeted with following error:

• What's wrong / what should be happening instead:

I should get a brand new distro under WSL2.

[squeaky-pl]

Attaching logs.

logs.zip

[squeaky-pl]

OK, I managed to resolve it by myself after some intensive Googling by running those two commands:

fsutil behavior set disableencryption 1
fsutil behavior set disablecompression 1

and rebooting.

Now it just works™

Nonetheless I dont remember changing anything about NTFS behavior myself. Could it be that my laptop manufacturer (Dell) did it? Maybe this should be handled more gracefully by WSL2. Could WSL2 set those properties per virtual hard disk file to prevent others from hitting this?

[benhillis]

Thank you very much for filing this issue. It's interesting that I'm not seeing that error in the logs, I'll have to dig into why that isn't showing up. I am seeing an invalid parameter error when trying to mount the VHD, so I bet that's the inner error.

When creating the VHD's I'll make sure that compression and encryption are both disabled on them.

[caffme]

I can not update my existing distro, I am getting the same error in PS when trying to run the wsl --set-version. The workaround (set disableencryption and disablecompression, followed by reboot) did not help.

I can install a different distro and that works. I only tried that after I tried the workaround.

wsllogs.zip

[caffme]

Also, after hitting the error subsequent attempts give a different error: "The operation timed out because a response was not received from the virtual machine or container." unless I use hcsdiag to kill the wsl container.

[dmchurch]

I'm encountering the same issue as @caffme. I assume this is because the folder the VHD is supposed to go into is marked as compressed or something, even though I've done the fsutil workaround. Where is the WSL2 VHD supposed to be located? I can't find any documentation on that, even though the "expand your VHD" documents mention putting in the path to it.

[dmchurch]

Okay, after some lucky guesses I've confirmed it and I have an addendum to the workaround (cc @caffme in case this works for you as well) - go to the Ubuntu directory in your profile folder (something like %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Packages\CanonicalGroupLimited...), right click on "LocalState", Properties, Advanced, deselect "Compress contents" (and I suppose "Encrypt contents" as well if that's checked). When it asks whether you want to apply to just this folder or to all subfolders and files, you can say "just this folder", because all you're doing is clearing that "compress" flag. After that the wsl --set-version command should work.

[illera88]

I had the same error. Fixed with a combination of @squeaky-pl and @dmchurch solutions

[caffme]

@dmchurch Thanks, yes that worked for me. I wondered about checking that but had no idea where WSL stored anything, good hunting!

@benhillis I am fairly sure that I didn't set the compressed flag myself. C:\Users\James\AppData\Local\Packages was the highest folder in the tree that had the compressed flag and I would not have done that manually.