lima-vm/lima · error

failed to run `wsl.exe --import %s %s %s`: %w (out=%#q)

Error message

failed to run `wsl.exe --import %s %s %s`: %w (out=%#q)

What it means

initVM runs `wsl.exe --import <distroName> <instanceDir> <baseDisk>` to create the Lima WSL distro from the base disk image. Non-zero exit from wsl.exe is wrapped with the distro name, target directory, base disk path, and decoded output. This means the distro could not be imported/registered.

Source

Thrown at pkg/driver/wsl2/vm_windows.go:52

		return fmt.Errorf("failed to run `wsl.exe --distribution %s`: %w (out=%#q)",
			distroName, err, out)
	}
	return nil
}

// initVM calls WSL to import a new VM specifically for Lima.
func initVM(ctx context.Context, instanceDir, distroName string) error {
	baseDisk := filepath.Join(instanceDir, filenames.BaseDiskLegacy)
	logrus.Infof("Importing distro from %#q to %#q", baseDisk, instanceDir)
	out, err := executil.RunUTF16leCommand([]string{
		"wsl.exe",
		"--import",
		distroName,
		instanceDir,
		baseDisk,
	}, executil.WithContext(ctx))
	if err != nil {
		return fmt.Errorf("failed to run `wsl.exe --import %s %s %s`: %w (out=%#q)",
			distroName, instanceDir, baseDisk, err, out)
	}
	return nil
}

// stopVM calls WSL to stop a running VM.
func stopVM(ctx context.Context, distroName string) error {
	out, err := executil.RunUTF16leCommand([]string{
		"wsl.exe",
		"--terminate",
		distroName,
	}, executil.WithContext(ctx))
	if err != nil {
		return fmt.Errorf("failed to run `wsl.exe --terminate %s`: %w (out=%#q)",
			distroName, err, out)
	}
	return nil
}

View on GitHub (pinned to dd909d0973)

Solutions

1. Delete the existing/conflicting distro: `wsl.exe --unregister <distroName>` (or `limactl delete <instance>`) and start again
2. Verify baseDisk exists and is a valid image; re-download via `limactl start` of the template
3. Check free disk space — importing expands the image; ensure instanceDir is on a writable NTFS path
4. Read the out= field for wsl.exe's specific error code and address it (e.g. access denied)
5. Run `wsl.exe --update` if wsl.exe itself is outdated or corrupted

Example fix

// before
wsl.exe --import lima-myvm C:\...\myvm base.img   // fails: already exists
// after
wsl.exe --unregister lima-myvm
limactl start myvm

// pre-checks before import
if _, err := os.Stat(baseDisk); err != nil {
    return fmt.Errorf("base disk missing: %w", err)
}
if wslDistroExists(distroName) {
    return errors.New("distro already registered; unregister first")
}
if freeDiskSpace(instanceDir) < minRequiredBytes {
    return errors.New("insufficient disk space for import")

if err := driver.Start(ctx); err != nil {
    if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "--import") {
        // safe recovery: remove the partial distro and retry
        exec.Command("wsl.exe", "--unregister", distroName).Run()
        return driver.Start(ctx)
    }
    return err
}

When it happens

Trigger: Start() -> initVM when the import fails: baseDisk file missing or corrupt, instanceDir invalid/in use, distro name already registered, or wsl.exe environment problems.

Common situations: Corrupted or truncated baseDisk (failed earlier download); leftover registration from a previous install causing 'already exists'; antivirus or permissions blocking the instance directory; running out of disk space while expanding the image.

Related errors

• failed to run `wsl.exe --distribution %s`: %w (out=%#q)
• failed to run `wsl.exe --terminate %s`: %w (out=%#q)
• cannot use `--sync` with a wsl2 instance, the host directory
• unimplemented
• failed to construct wsl boot.sh script: %w

AI-assisted analysis of lima-vm/lima@dd909d0973 (2026-09-01). Data as JSON: /api/errors/db012ca5307d6a89. Report an issue: GitHub.