WSL is a Windows feature to run Linux environment without any hassle which normally requires dual boot or an individual virtual machine. You need to simply run a wsl command to start this application but unfortunately, sometimes you may face the error code 4294967295 when doing so. The full error message is “Process Exited with Code 4294967295”. This may also appear when running \\wsl$ in Windows Explorer to browse Linux distro.
The error Process exited with code 4294967295 is likely to appear when trying to run the command through the Terminal app, Command Prompt, or Visual Studio Code. Complete error message blocking the WSL might be “A connection attempt failed because the connected party did not properly respond after a period of time, or established connection failed because connected host has failed to respond. [process exited with code 4294967295]”. Let’s follow the solutions to this error code:
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Process Exited with Code 4294967295
Here is how to fix Process Exited with Code 4294967295 in WSL in Windows 11:
Perform winsock reset and start HvHost
Mostly this command does not open Windows Subsystem for Linux because of problems with network and the reset of Winsock catalog works in almost every case. Apart from this, the disabled Windows Hypervisor platform might also prevent WSL from opening.
So, along with resetting Winsock you may have to start HvHost. Perform both tasks using commands as follows:
- Press Windows logo key and type cmd.
- Select “Run as administrator”.
- On the Command Prompt, type the following lines one by one and hit Enter sequentially:
netsh winsock reset
net start HvHost & net stop HvHost & net start HvHost
- In the end, restart your computer and check if the error is fixed.
Read: Fix Docker Desktop – Unexpected WSL error in Windows 11
Configure Hypervisor to Start Automatically
Changing the Hypervisor launch type to auto may also fix the WSL not opening issue. Follow the steps to run cmd command to start Hyper-V automatically:
- Hold down Winkey + R and type cmd.
- Then, press Ctrl + Shift + Enter.
- Enter the below command:
bcdedit /set hypervisorlaunchtype auto
- Reboot the computer and see if the error is fixed.
See: Fix WSL register distribution failed with error in Windows (Solved!)
Start WSL as an Administrator
Windows Subsystem for Linux environment only starts when administrative privileges are available. Sometimes, exit code 4294967295 may appear due to lack of administrator’s permission hence run the application as follows:
- Press “Ctrl + Shift + Esc” to open Task Manager.
- Find all processes related to WSL.
- Right click on them one by one and select “End task”.
- Once done, click the Start and type cmd.exe.
- When results are showing, right click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run as administrator”.
- Type wsl and hit the Enter key.
- This way the Windows Subsystem for Linux will start without showing any problem.
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Turn off and again on WSL
Process exited with code 4294967295 may appear if you have not closed the previous session of WSL and are trying to open it. Disabling and again enabling the Windows Subsystem for Linux may help you to rescue this problem:
- Launch “Command Prompt as an administrator”.
- Type the below lines of commands sequentially and and press Enter after each:
DISM /online /disable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /norestart
DISM /online /disable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /norestart- Restart the PC and open Command Prompt with admin privileges again.
- Enter the following commands:
DISM /online /enable-feature /featurename:VirtualMachinePlatform /norestart
DISM /online /enable-feature /featurename:Microsoft-Windows-Subsystem-Linux /norestart
- Finally, reboot your computer.
Restart HvHost
You can restart the Hypervisor service to deal with exit code 4294967295 in Windows when opening WSL. This service provides a user interface for the Hyper-V to provide per-partition performance counters to Windows Subsystem for Linux.
- Press “Windows + S” and type services.msc.
- Hit the “Enter” key and find “HV Host Service” in the Services window.
- Right-click on this Service and select Restart.
- Then try to run the command to launch WSL.
See: How to Install Linux Subsystem on Windows 10
That’s all!!