Learn how to fix the “wsl/service/createinstance/mountvhd/hcs/error_file_not_found” Ubuntu error code. Our Server Management Support team is here to help you with your questions and concerns.

Ubuntu Error Code wsl/service/createinstance/mountvhd/hcs/error_file_not_found

If you have been running into the following error message, you have come to the right place.

wsl/service/createinstance/mountvhd/hcs/error_file_not_found

According to our Experts, this error is due to an issue with mounting the virtual hard disk file used by our Ubuntu WSL distribution.

In other words, WSL is unable to locate the disk file required to run our Ubuntu environment.

Common Causes and Solutions

Let’s take a quick look at some of the causes behind this Ubuntu error.

Corrupted or Missing VHD

The virtual hard disk file that WSL is trying to mount might be missing or corrupted.

Fix: So, check if the VHD file exists and is accessible. If it’s corrupted, we have to reset or reinstall the WSL distribution.

Permission Issues

There may be issues preventing WSL from accessing the VHD.

Fix: In this case, make sure the user account has the necessary permissions to access the VHD file. Running WSL with administrative privileges might help.

Installation Issues

The WSL installation itself might be corrupted.

Fix: Try reinstalling WSL. You can do this by going to the Windows Features dialog, unchecking “Windows Subsystem for Linux,” rebooting, and then rechecking the feature.

Configuration Errors

There may be configuration errors within WSL settings.

Fix: Check the WSL configuration files for any anomalies. Sometimes resetting the WSL configuration can fix such issues.

Windows Updates

Updates to Windows can sometimes cause issues with WSL.

Fix: In this case, check if the Windows installation is up to date. Sometimes, rolling back recent updates can also resolve the issue if they introduced the problem.

Troubleshooting Tips

1. First, run this command to list all installed WSL distributions and their statuses:

   wsl --list –verbose
2. Then, go to the directory where the VHD files are stored, usually under `C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Packages`. Check if the corresponding VHD file for the distribution exists and is not corrupted.
3. We can reset a distribution with this command:

   wsl --unregister DistrobutionName

   To reinstall a distribution, download it again from the Microsoft Store.
4. Also, make sure Windows is up to date by checking for updates in the Settings app.
5. Additionally, try running the terminal or command prompt as an administrator and then start WSL.
6. Furthermore, check the WSL logs for more detailed error messages that can help diagnose the issue:

   Get-WinEvent -LogName "Microsoft-Windows-Lxss/Operational" | select -last 20

With the above steps, we will be able to diagnose and resolve the “wsl/service/createinstance/mountvhd/hcs/error_file_not_found” error in no time.

[Need assistance with a different issue? Our team is available 24/7.]

Conclusion

In brief, our Support Experts demonstrated how to fix the “wsl/service/createinstance/mountvhd/hcs/error_file_not_found” Ubuntu error code.