WSL2 Install or Import : 0x80070003 The system cannot find the path specified.

[benyaminl]

Error when running any installed distro from Store, WSL2
WSL2

The error is simple When I want to run any distro, it always hung up with

Unpacking Linux filesystem image, this may take a few minutes... WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x80070003 Error: 0x80070003 The system cannot find the path specified.

Press any key to continue...

The Distro Data already on C:, so anyone who could help is appriciated. This reproduced even on Other computer. Thanks

Data Provided :

1. This is a personal laptop computer
2. It's windows 20h2, I don't use any symlink or mounting point, WSL 2
3. WSL 1 ever work with this computer, it's 2nd time I tried to install and fail with not found
4. It's WSL 2, already patched with update kernel to latest from MS https://wslstorestorage.blob.core.windows.net/wslblob/wsl_update_x64.msi, already set wsl --set-default-version 2
5. I just want to install Ubuntu/Fedora Remix on WSL2, after installing from store, click to run at first time, the script tried to unpack, but then the error occured,

Unpacking Linux filesystem image, this may take a few minutes... WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x80070003 Error: 0x80070003 The system cannot find the path specified.
Press any key to continue...

6. It should extracted and start asking for passwd I think, base on step 6 https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install-win10

Device name BEN-ASUS-A43SV
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-2670QM CPU @ 2.20GHz 2.20 GHz
Installed RAM 16,0 GB
Device ID A641E8D1-2A8D-4B1E-B95D-296588E98475
Product ID 00330-80000-00000-AA283
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
Pen and touch Pen support
Edition Windows 10 Pro
Version 20H2
Installed on ‎18/‎08/‎2020
OS build 19042.746
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 120.2212.551.0

PS C:\Users\Ben> wsl --list --verbose
Windows Subsystem for Linux has no installed distributions.
Distributions can be installed by visiting the Microsoft Store:
https://aka.ms/wslstore

EDIT : I tried to manually import tar file to a path, even the path exists, it throw error path not exist

see https://fedoramagazine.org/wsl-fedora-33/

Error when running any installed distro from Store, WSL2 Import Distro can't find path specified

Error when running any installed distro from Store, WSL2

WSL Version File

ETL Data Log :
wsl.etl.zip

[benyaminl]

I'm closing this issue as the only way to fix it is in-place upgrade the windows. I did it and now the error gone away.

Hello. seems WSL need to add a new FAQ about this.
It seems as your guess, there're broken windows registry, dll, or other that's take place cause wsl won't run, but rather than couraging people to reset their PC, it should be in-place upgrade.
After in-place upgrade, I could run 2 version of the WSL, I'm quite excited it's running again.
The culprit should be the windows upgrade from windows update that could be corrupting some registry, dll, etc, because I never fresh install windows about 3 years I remember, and as I state before I never touch any registry item and The List Application that I have is :
O365, MS Project, MS Visio, Vensim, Oracle VBox, Adobe Suite, Eclipse, Firefox, Android Studio, Discord, Telegram, Mendeley, MS Team, LINE, Spotify, Visual Studio C#, Visual Studio Code, GVim, MSYS, Some MS game like AOE3, CnC, and simple portable windows 7 games.
and in past 3 years I never touch any registry by any means, deleting system files by anymeans, or other. So The Culprit will narrowed down only to Windows Update, and for security measure, I only use MS based security deffender and anti ransomware with O365.
And I think it should be written when there're strange error like this, should be reset the OS or in-place upgrade if possible. (resetting mean reinstall all program from scratch, and most people won't go to it, as it take a lot of time )

[benyaminl]

@therealkenc I'm closing this. Please add FAQ section that courage people to try to in-place upgrade first or reset their PC before creating any issue, seems WSL issue become more and more too much.

Thanks

[pdebuitlear]

This is a bit of a joke, you are suggesting people essentially do a factory reset? What is the root cause? This is like using a sledgehammer to hit a nail.

[therealkenc]

/dupe #6363

[ghost]

Hi! We've identified this issue as a duplicate of another one that already exists in this repository. This specific instance is being closed in favor of tracking the concern over on the referenced thread.

Thanks for your report!