Object not found error / Error code: Wsl/ERROR_NOT_FOUND - wsl can be run and used only with elevated privileges ("run as admin")

[JVsup]

Windows Version

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19045.3570]

WSL Version

2.0.9.0

Are you using WSL 1 or WSL 2?

• WSL 2
• WSL 1

Kernel Version

Linux version 5.15.133.1-microsoft-standard-WSL2 (root@1c602f52c2e4) (gcc (GCC) 11.2.0, GNU ld (GNU Binutils) 2.37) #1 SMP Thu Oct 5 21:02:42 UTC 2023

Distro Version

Debian 11.8

Other Software

No response

Repro Steps

Today wsl stopped working, I cannot acces it - all i am getting is error that object doesnt exist no matter what i do. Error messages are completely unhelpful.

From standart powershell, i cant do anything, but if I run it with elevated privileges as admin, suddenly i can see the distro, run in, use it, etc.

same goes for windows terminal, launching linux apps, and so on. I need to run them as admin, or nothing works.

I have no clue what caused this deranged behavior, because until today I did not need to run anything wsl related as admin...

Expected Behavior

I should be able to use wsl with standard user privileges, not only as admin.

Actual Behavior

standart powershell (run with normal user permisions)

Windows PowerShell
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Try the new cross-platform PowerShell https://aka.ms/pscore6

PS C:\Users\janva> wsl -l -v
Prvek nebyl nalezen.
Error code: Wsl/ERROR_NOT_FOUND
PS C:\Users\janva> wsl --install
Ubuntu je již nainstalovaný.
Spouští se Ubuntu…
Installing, this may take a few minutes...
WslRegisterDistribution failed with error: 0x80070490
Error: 0x80070490 Prvek nebyl nalezen.

Press any key to continue...
Operace byla dokončena úspěšně.
PS C:\Users\janva> wsl
Prvek nebyl nalezen.
Error code: Wsl/ERROR_NOT_FOUND
PS C:\Users\janva> wsl.exe
Prvek nebyl nalezen.
Error code: Wsl/ERROR_NOT_FOUND
PS C:\Users\janva> wsl --version
Verze WSL: 2.0.9.0
Verze jádra: 5.15.133.1-1
Verze WSLg: 1.0.59
Verze MSRDC: 1.2.4677
Verze Direct3D: 1.611.1-81528511
Verze DXCore: 10.0.25131.1002-220531-1700.rs-onecore-base2-hyp
Verze Windows: 10.0.19045.3570
PS C:\Users\janva> wsl --status
Prvek nebyl nalezen.
Error code: Wsl/ERROR_NOT_FOUND

---

---

powreshell with elevated privileges

PS C:\> wsl -l -v
  NAME      STATE           VERSION
* Debian    Running         2
PS C:\> wsl --status
Výchozí distribuce: Debian
Výchozí verze: 2
PS C:\> wsl --version
Verze WSL: 2.0.9.0
Verze jádra: 5.15.133.1-1
Verze WSLg: 1.0.59
Verze MSRDC: 1.2.4677
Verze Direct3D: 1.611.1-81528511
Verze DXCore: 10.0.25131.1002-220531-1700.rs-onecore-base2-hyp
Verze Windows: 10.0.19045.3570

Diagnostic Logs

No response

[github-actions]

Hi I'm an AI powered bot that finds similar issues based off the issue title.

Please view the issues below to see if they solve your problem, and if the issue describes your problem please consider closing this one and thumbs upping the other issue to help us prioritize it. Thank you!

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[SpeedyLom]

I'm having this exact issue since yesterday (2023-11-15).

[MMiller7901]

Also having similar issues since yesterday (2023-11-15)
wsl has completely quit responding to commands and just hangs PowerShell

<3>WSL (82) ERROR: CreateProcessEntryCommon:502: execvpe /bin/bash failed 5

[aleluis79]

Same issue here, after yesterday's Windows 10 Update (2023-11-15).

[keesj-riscure]

Similar issue here (and X11 window corruption)

Admin

C:\Users\ME>wsl -l -v
  NAME      STATE           VERSION
* Ubuntu    Running         2

User

C:\Users\ME>wsl -l -v
Element not found.
Error code: Wsl/ERROR_NOT_FOUND

[edddddee]

I got the same issue several times since 2023-11-15. Always the same error when i try to run any wsl command or open my ubuntu distro:

Element not found.
Error code: Wsl/ERROR_NOT_FOUND

I am able to reinstall wsl and ubuntu from scratch and use it for a while but I have been able to reproduce the issue when:

1. I try to use Docker Desktop (I am using wsl2 backend)
2. I run "wsl --update" after wsl points out there is a new update to wsl (after the update it crashes)

This is my wsl --version print:

WSL-version: 2.0.9.0
Kernelversion: 5.15.133.1-1
WSLg-version: 1.0.59
MSRDC-version: 1.2.4677
Direct3D-version: 1.611.1-81528511
DXCore-version: 10.0.25131.1002-220531-1700.rs-onecore-base2-hyp
Windows-version: 10.0.19045.3693

[edddddee]

Update:

I now managed to reproduce and fix my issue by uninstalling the last file (8kB) in the list below from apps & features. I got that file from running "wsl --update". My wsl doesn't crash anymore as long as I avoid running "wsl --update".

[mhicks-cfs]

I am seeing the same error, for me it started after installing the Windows update KB5032189. After rebooting WSL started to behave in the same way as the OP.
Unfortunately @SinisterGaze I do not have the same set of WSL installs as you do, none are 8 KB on my system.

[Ddog800]

I just noticed this today as well. Looks like WSL updated yesterday from the MS store (reporting version 2.0.9.0). Also installed Windows 10 KB5032189 yesterday as well.

Edit: Confirmed that it will open fine if I launch Terminal as administrator.

[RobertOstermann]

I am also seeing this error with WSL version 2.0.9.0 and installed Windows 10 KB5032189 yesterday.

[benhillis]

Thanks for reporting, I'm not seeing /logs in this thread, could you please collect?

[JVsup]

Thanks for reporting, I'm not seeing /logs in this thread, could you please collect?

Here they are, one log for stuff ran as standard user and another with elevated privileges
WslLogs-2023-11-18_07-26-40_user.zip
WslLogs-2023-11-18_07-28-44_admin.zip

[10cheon00]

Update:

I now managed to reproduce and fix my issue by uninstalling the last file (8kB) in the list below from apps & features. I got that file from running "wsl --update". My wsl doesn't crash anymore as long as I avoid running "wsl --update".

This is works for me. Just uninstall latest app. Great!