How to Fix WSL Register Distribution Error 0x80370102?

Windows Troubleshooting
1

Originally published at: How to Fix WSL Register Distribution Error 0x80370102?

When you encounter the WSL Register Distribution Error 0x80370102, it typically prevents you from installing a Linux distribution on your Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). This error code means that the virtual machine required by WSL could not start due to a missing or disabled system feature. Error Notification   The most common cause is…

2

God among men. Solved my issue

3

Yes thank you so much, this is the only thing that has solved my issue

4

thanks a lot !!! I made it by enable SVM (BIOS virtualization)

5

Kept getting the pesky 0x80370102 error when trying to install Debian from the MS Store and LinuxMintWSL (from github).

  • SVM (BIOS virtualization) was enabled

  • Hyper-V installed and enabled

  • Windows Virtual Platform installed and enabled

  • WSL installed and enabled

  • WSL Kernel update installed

… basically all the requirements were met, but I still kept getting the error no matter what.

The fix for me was to first set WSL default to v1:
(Windows PowerShell Commands As Adminstrator)

wsl.exe --set-default-version 1

Then install the distros. Once the distros were installed, I upgraded them to WSL v2:

wsl.exe --set-version Debian 2

and

wsl.exe --set-version Mint 2

Then I verified the versions with:

wsl.exe -l -v

Output:

NAME STATE VERSION

Debian Running 2
docker-desktop Running 2
Mint Running 2
docker-desktop-data Running 2

Then I changed the default WSL version back to 2:

wsl.exe --set-default-version 2

And finally tried to run my distros in Windows Terminal and they worked fine. Was then able to
sudo apt update
and
sudo apt dist-upgrade

So everything appears to be working now.

6

What fixed it for me in powershell as admin:

Get-Service LxssManager | Restart-Service

7

You just have to enter the name of your Virtual Machine. That’s it.

8

Thanks for ur help, but I acltually don’t know why now it’s working. Thanks again !

9

It should also be enabled in Windows Settings try method 2.

10

Hi ! I have enabled Virtualization in the BIOS, but I still have the same error. Any idea why ?

11

Hi ! How can I get the name and values of my VM Processor ?

12

When I past the command in admin powershell it gives me error. What should I do?

13

Windows 11 is basically similar to Windows 10 In some cases, I suggest you try the methods shown and let me know how it goes.