deleted wsl.exe

[Karan27q]

i have deleted wsl.exe system file and wsl.config now i can't seem to install wsl --install command to update. then msi release package has been download and when try to setup it finished without installing it i cant seem to get download and use windows subsystem for linux in microsoft store and docker cant repaur wsl itself what can i do to work on it

[josapton]

1. You can restore it using the built-in system repair tools.

• Click the Start button, type cmd.
• Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
• Type the following command and press Enter:

sfc /scannow

• Wait for the scan to reach 100%. If Windows finds the missing wsl.exe, it will automatically restore it.
• Once that is done, run this second command to ensure your Windows image is completely healthy:

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

• Restart your PC.

2. you need to toggle the WSL feature off and on again to force Windows to redownload the binaries.

• Press the Windows Key + R, type optionalfeatures, and press Enter.
• In the "Windows Features" list, scroll down and uncheck the following two boxes:
  Virtual Machine Platform
  Windows Subsystem for Linux
• Click OK and let Windows apply the changes.
• Restart your PC when prompted.
• After the restart, repeat step 1 to open the "Windows Features" menu again.
• Check those exact same two boxes to turn them back on.
• Click OK, let Windows download the required files, and Restart your PC one more time.

3. Since your previous installation attempts failed halfway, there might be broken application data preventing a clean install.

• Open Windows Settings (Win + I).
• Go to Apps > Installed apps.
• Search for Windows Subsystem for Linux.
• If it appears in the list, click the three dots next to it and select Uninstall.
• Do the same for Ubuntu or any other Linux distributions you might have installed previously.

wsl --install

[Karan27q]

i have already dealt with this issue but the method u have given does not work for me after trying the method described by you i have asked gemini and found other technique which help me solved this issue.

Here is the command

msiexec.exe /i wsl_update_x64.msi /reinstall /qn

after using this command i have used this

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

followed by it the problem is solved

thank you for the answer.

[Karan27q]

i have already dealt with this issue but the method u have given does not work for me after trying the method described by you i have asked gemini and found other technique which help me solved this issue. Here is the command msiexec.exe /i wsl_update_x64.msi /reinstall /qn after using this command i have used this dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth followed by it the problem is solved thank you for the answer.

…

On Tue, May 26, 2026 at 2:25 PM Joko Saptono ***@***.***> wrote: 1. You can restore it using the built-in system repair tools. - Click the Start button, type cmd. - Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. - Type the following command and press Enter: sfc /scannow - Wait for the scan to reach 100%. If Windows finds the missing wsl.exe, it will automatically restore it. - Once that is done, run this second command to ensure your Windows image is completely healthy: DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth - Restart your PC. 2. you need to toggle the WSL feature off and on again to force Windows to redownload the binaries. - Press the Windows Key + R, type optionalfeatures, and press Enter. - In the "Windows Features" list, scroll down and uncheck the following two boxes: Virtual Machine Platform Windows Subsystem for Linux - Click OK and let Windows apply the changes. - Restart your PC when prompted. - After the restart, repeat step 1 to open the "Windows Features" menu again. - Check those exact same two boxes to turn them back on. - Click OK, let Windows download the required files, and Restart your PC one more time. 3. Since your previous installation attempts failed halfway, there might be broken application data preventing a clean install. - Open Windows Settings (Win + I). - Go to Apps > Installed apps. - Search for Windows Subsystem for Linux. - If it appears in the list, click the three dots next to it and select Uninstall. - Do the same for Ubuntu or any other Linux distributions you might have installed previously. 4. wsl --install — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#40341?email_source=notifications&email_token=BFDQN5XEVCOEIEUII4AYLHL44VLWRA5CNFSNUABIM5UWIORPF5TWS5BNNB2WEL2ENFZWG5LTONUW63SDN5WW2ZLOOQXTCNZQGU4TOOBXUZZGKYLTN5XKMYLVORUG64VFMV3GK3TUVRTG633UMVZF6Y3MNFRWW#discussioncomment-17059787>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/BFDQN5T3WZUB5GVJBI4XBT344VLWRAVCNFSM6AAAAACYI24T56VHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43URDJONRXK43TNFXW4Q3PNVWWK3TUHMYTOMBVHE3TQNY> . Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS <https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub>. You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>