Docker Desktop fails to launch after instalation

[liegarmina-fms]

Description

"Unexpected WSL error" appears and Docker Desktop application never manages to launch after installing it on Windows laptop.

Reproduce

1. download the Docker Desktop from here for Windows - AMD64:
   https://www.docker.com/
2. Successfully install the application
3. Open it by using the icon on a desktop
4. Get an Unexpected WSL error

Expected behavior

docker version

Client:
 Version:           28.0.4
 API version:       1.48
 Go version:        go1.23.7
 Git commit:        b8034c0
 Built:             Tue Mar 25 15:07:48 2025
 OS/Arch:           windows/amd64
 Context:           desktop-linux
error during connect: Get "http://%2F%2F.%2Fpipe%2FdockerDesktopLinuxEngine/v1.48/version": EOF

docker info

Client:
 Version:    28.0.4
 Context:    desktop-linux
 Debug Mode: false
 Plugins:
  ai: Docker AI Agent - Ask Gordon (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v1.1.3
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-ai.exe
  buildx: Docker Buildx (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.22.0-desktop.1
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-buildx.exe
  cloud: Docker Cloud (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  0.2.20
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-cloud.exe
  compose: Docker Compose (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v2.34.0-desktop.1
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-compose.exe
  debug: Get a shell into any image or container (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  0.0.38
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-debug.exe
  desktop: Docker Desktop commands (Beta) (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.1.6
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-desktop.exe
  dev: Docker Dev Environments (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.1.2
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-dev.exe
  extension: Manages Docker extensions (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.2.27
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-extension.exe
  init: Creates Docker-related starter files for your project (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v1.4.0
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-init.exe
  sbom: View the packaged-based Software Bill Of Materials (SBOM) for an image (Anchore Inc.)
    Version:  0.6.0
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-sbom.exe
  scout: Docker Scout (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v1.17.0
    Path:     C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-scout.exe

Server:
ERROR: error during connect: Get "http://%2F%2F.%2Fpipe%2FdockerDesktopLinuxEngine/v1.48/info": open //./pipe/dockerDesktopLinuxEngine: The system cannot find the file specified.
errors pretty printing info

Diagnostics ID

C1F3BC26-9A41-400D-8EE2-7C6169E90435/20250408101648

Additional Info

laptop ASUS ZenBook15
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8565U CPU @ 1.80GHz 1.99 GHz
Windows11 x64 v23H2 build 22631.5126

I've ran wsl--shutdown; then uninsatlled Ubuntu WSL and installed it back again. Uninstalled Docker Desktop and installed it back again. This doesn't help.

Thank you for looking into this.

[Doha-Aboalfetoh]

I have the same error and I can't solve it

[Georges-AA]

+1

[ldbtech]

the same thing

[AlexTolk]

You can find Network Reset in the Windows Settings.
Once you reset the windows, you can use the docker.
All are resolved now

[liegarmina-fms]

Sorry, but it wasn't resolved.
I've made a Network Reset, but after the Windiws was automatically rebooted the issue has persist.
I still get the same pop-up window with the error.

[djs55]

@liegarmina-fms thanks for your report. Could you try with the latest 4.41.2 from https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes/#4412 and, assuming the error reproduces, upload a fresh set of diagnostics and quote the ID here?

[liegarmina-fms]

@djs55 I've installed Docker 4.41.2 and made a Network Reset after that. I still get the same error. Here is a diagnostic id:
C1F3BC26-9A41-400D-8EE2-7C6169E90435/20250514101458

Reproduce:
Install the application and get a pop up window with "Docker Desctop - Unexpected WSL error"

docker version:
Client:
Version: 28.1.1
API version: 1.49
Go version: go1.23.8
Git commit: 4eba377
Built: Fri Apr 18 09:53:24 2025
OS/Arch: windows/amd64
Context: desktop-linux

docker info:
Client:
Version: 28.1.1
Context: desktop-linux
Debug Mode: false
Plugins:
ai: Docker AI Agent - Ask Gordon (Docker Inc.)
Version: v1.1.7
Path: C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-ai.exe
buildx: Docker Buildx (Docker Inc.)
Version: v0.23.0-desktop.1
Path: C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-buildx.exe
cloud: Docker Cloud (Docker Inc.)
Version: v0.3.0
Path: C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-cloud.exe
compose: Docker Compose (Docker Inc.)
Version: v2.35.1-desktop.1
Path: C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-compose.exe
debug: Get a shell into any image or container (Docker Inc.)
Version: 0.0.38
Path: C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-debug.exe
desktop: Docker Desktop commands (Docker Inc.)
Version: v0.1.8
Path: C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-desktop.exe
dev: Docker Dev Environments (Docker Inc.)
Version: v0.1.2
Path: C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-dev.exe
extension: Manages Docker extensions (Docker Inc.)
Version: v0.2.27
Path: C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-extension.exe
init: Creates Docker-related starter files for your project (Docker Inc.)
Version: v1.4.0
Path: C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-init.exe
mcp: Docker MCP Plugin (Docker Inc.)
Version: dev
Path: C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-mcp.exe
model: Docker Model Runner (Docker Inc.)
Version: v0.1.11
Path: C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-model.exe
sbom: View the packaged-based Software Bill Of Materials (SBOM) for an image (Anchore Inc.)
Version: 0.6.0
Path: C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-sbom.exe
scout: Docker Scout (Docker Inc.)
Version: v1.17.1
Path: C:\Program Files\Docker\cli-plugins\docker-scout.exe

Server:

Thank you for your help!

[djs55]

@liegarmina-fms thanks for the update. Unfortunately the diagnostics upload failed. Could you attach the main log file (or only the lines surrounding that error message "ensuring data disk")? The path is .\AppData\Local\Docker\log\host\com.docker.backend.exe.log. (Sorry for the inconvenience)

[liegarmina-fms]

no problem at all))

here is the log file:

com.docker.backend.exe.log

[djs55]

@liegarmina-fms thanks again! The log shows the failing command is:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\wsl.exe --mount --bare --vhd <HOME>\AppData\Local\Docker\wsl\disk\docker_data.vhdx

unfortunately it has logged only the wsl.exe --help and not an error code. Could you try running that command from a terminal and showing me what you see? Note you will have to replace <HOME> with C:\Users\liegarmina-fms (or whatever your home directory really is)