WSL 2 disk image cannot be moved to a different drive

[rdicroce]

• I have tried with the latest version of Docker Desktop
• I have tried disabling enabled experimental features
• I have uploaded Diagnostics
• Diagnostics ID: BE7C0EE9-BDCD-4944-9FE7-288AF3A9CF9D/20230301151135

Actual behavior

WSL 2 disk image cannot be moved to a different drive.

Expected behavior

WSL 2 disk image can be moved to a different drive.

Information

• Windows Version: 10 Pro 22H2
• Docker Desktop Version: 4.17.0
• WSL2 or Hyper-V backend? WSL2
• Are you running inside a virtualized Windows e.g. on a cloud server or a VM: No

In Settings -> Resources -> Advanced, the disk image location lets you choose where to store the WSL 2 image. I was excited about this since it looked like it would resolve docker/roadmap#239. I tried to move my image from my C drive to my much larger D drive. It appeared to work, but then I noticed the directory I chose on the D drive was still empty.

So I went back in and looked at the setting again. It had reverted back to its original value. I tried changing it again, and it still didn't work. I exited the settings window and re-opened it. The original value was back.

A peek in the log file suggests that the cause is that Docker is attempting to simply rename the file, which does not work if the destination is on a different drive:

[2023-03-01T14:54:44.028780800Z][com.docker.backend.exe][W] failed to rename, use copy: rename <HOME>\AppData\Local\Docker\wsl\data\ext4.vhdx D:\Docker\wsl\DockerDesktopWSL\ext4.vhdx: The system cannot move the file to a different disk drive.

Output of & "C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker\resources\com.docker.diagnose.exe" check

Steps to reproduce the behavior

1. Have the disk image in a directory on drive C.
2. Open Settings -> Resources -> Advanced.
3. Attempt to change the Disk image location to a directory on drive D.

[GitHubGuy89]

Same issue as above. "Settings > Resources > Advanced - Disk image location" resets back to default after it's changed and doesn't actually change the image location.

Also on Windows 10, Docker Desktop 4.17.0 (99724), WSL2

[crisguille]

Same issue Windows 10

[LastAi]

Also same issue, in settings I change it and it looks fine. but never uses the listed path.
Ive tried the whole Shutdown WSL and unregister then reimport. still doesnt stick.

Updated: actually it did work changes from unregistering and reimporting, it just still cant show any update in the UI.

[PunKHS]

The same issue:
Windows Version: 10 Pro 22H2 19045.2728
Docker Desktop Version: 4.17.0

[tazorax]

Same here
Windows 10 Entreprise 22H2 19045.2788
Docker Desktop Version: 4.17.1

[fbence]

Same here with:
Docker Desktop 4.18.0
Windows 10 Enterprise 22H2 19045.2728

Log file excerpt:
`[2023-04-05T19:31:41.917478800Z][com.docker.backend.exe][I] moving WSL data disk from "" to "D:\ddd\DockerDesktopWSL"
[2023-04-05T19:31:41.921106100Z][com.docker.backend.exe][W] failed to rename, use copy: rename \AppData\Local\Docker\wsl\data\ext4.vhdx D:\ddd\DockerDesktopWSL\ext4.vhdx: The system cannot move the file to a different disk drive.
[2023-04-05T19:31:41.925097900Z][com.docker.backend.exe][I] setting auto start false
[2023-04-05T19:31:41.928441000Z][com.docker.backend.exe][I] settings write: {"acceptCanaryUpdates":false,"activeOrganizationName":"","allowExperimentalFeatures":true,"analyticsEnabled":false,"autoDownloadUpdates":false,"autoStart":false,"containerTerminal":"integrated","cpus":4,"credentialHelper":"docker-credential-wincred.exe","customWslDistroDir":"","dataFolder":"C:\ProgramData\DockerDesktop\vm-data","deprecatedCgroupv1":false,"disableHardwareAcceleration":false,"disableTips":true,"disableUpdate":false,"diskSizeMiB":65536,"diskTRIM":true,"displayRestartDialog":true,"displaySwitchWinLinContainers":false,"displayed18362Deprecation":false,"displayedElectronPopup":[],"displayedWelcomeSurvey":true,"dockerBinInstallPath":"system","enableDefaultDockerSocket":true,"enableIntegrationWithDefaultWslDistro":true,"enableSegmentDebug":false,"enhancedContainerIsolation":false,"exposeDockerAPIOnTCP2375":false,"extensionsEnabled":true,"filesharingDirectories":[],"integratedWslDistros":[],"kubernetesEnabled":false,"kubernetesInitialInstallPerformed":true,"lastLoginDate":0,"latestBannerKey":"","licenseTermsVersion":2,"lifecycleTimeoutSeconds":600,"memoryMiB":2048,"noWindowsContainers":false,"onlyMarketplaceExtensions":false,"openUIOnStartupDisabled":true,"overrideProxyExclude":"","overrideProxyHttp":"","overrideProxyHttps":"","proxyHttpMode":"s...m","requireVmnetd":false,"settingsVersion":26,"showArtifactoryTab":true,"showExtensionsSystemContainers":false,"showKubernetesSystemContainers":true,"showMacInstall":false,"skipUpdateToWSLPrompt":true,"skipWSLMountPerfWarning":false,"socksProxyPort":0,"swapMiB":1024,"swarmFederationExplicitlyLoggedOut":false,"themeSource":"system","tipLastId":"float64","tipLastViewedTime":1670936105433,"updateAvailableTime":0,"updateHostsFile":false,"updateInstallTime":0,"useBackgroundIndexing":false,"useContainerdSnapshotter":false,"useCredentialHelper":true,"useGrpcfuse":true,"useNightlyBuildUpdates":false,"useVirtualizationFramework":false,"useVirtualizationFrameworkRosetta":false,"useVirtualizationFrameworkVirtioFS":false,"useVpnkit":true,"useWindowsContainers":false,"vpnKitMaxPortIdleTime":"float64","vpnKitTransparentProxy":true,"vpnkitCIDR":"1...4","wslEnableGrpcfuse":false,"wslEngineEnabled":true}
[2023-04-05T19:31:41.931394200Z][com.docker.backend.exe][E] restarting VM with callback: callback on restart: 1 error occurred:
* failed to move WSL data disk: writing file: cannot write data to tempfile "D:\ddd\DockerDesktopWSL\ext4.vhdx544156813": read \AppData\Local\Docker\wsl\data\ext4.vhdx: file already closed

[common/cmd/com.docker.backend/internal/handlers.(*AppHandler).DoApply.func1()
[ common/cmd/com.docker.backend/internal/handlers/app.go:150 +0xf6
[common/cmd/com.docker.backend/internal/handlers.(*AppHandler).DoApply
[ common/cmd/com.docker.backend/internal/handlers/app.go:148 +0x4aa`

Thx

[christophermclellan]

Hi folks, thanks for raising and apologies that this isn't working. We'll look at this during planning early next week and I'll provide an update shortly thereafter.

[DirectorGunner]

This is infuriating. The app is hardcoded to look in an arbitrary folder rather than the folder I provide.

[elapuyade]

Hi,
There was indeed a bug when moving the WSL data folder to another disk, thanks for the detailed report. This has been fixed and should be published in next release.

[lorenrh]

Closing this issue because a fix has been released in Docker Desktop 4.20. See the release notes for more details.