WSL Install Fails with Arithmetic Error for Custom Linux Distro

[JersyJ]

Windows Version

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19045.5608]

WSL Version

2.4.13.0

Are you using WSL 1 or WSL 2?

• WSL 2
• WSL 1

Kernel Version

5.15.167.4-1

Distro Version

Ubuntu 22.04

Other Software

No response

Repro Steps

We have successfully built a custom Linux distribution for WSL in tar.gz (.wsl) format, which installs and works fully when using the command wsl --install --from-file <Path>, or by opening the file directly in the Explorer. However, we are encountering an issue when attempting to install the distribution through the enterprise distribution mechanism using wsl --install (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/build-custom-distro#adding-your-distribution-to-wsl---install-for-your-enterprise-or-business-group) .

We have created and deployed the DistributionInfo.json file, and we can list the distribution using the command wsl --list --online

PS C:\Users\redacted> wsl --list --online
The following is a list of valid distributions that can be installed.
Install using 'wsl.exe --install <Distro>'.

NAME                                      FRIENDLY NAME
Ubuntu-<redacted>                Ubuntu <redacted>
Ubuntu-22.04-<redacted>      Ubuntu 22.04 <redacted>

But when the user try to install the distro, the installation process begins successfully, an error occurs after the download reaches about 82%. The error message is as follows:

Downloading: Ubuntu <redacted>
Arithmetic result exceeded 32 bits. ============           ]
Error code: Wsl/InstallDistro/0x80070216

This error occurs only when using the remoteURL, not when using a local file:/// path.

It occurred to me that the issue might be related to the file size. The distribution file is over 4GB, specifically 4,442,940 KB, due to the large number of pre-installed tools.

Exact steps:

1. Build a custom Linux distribution for WSL in tar.gz (.wsl) format, with a file size over 4GB.
2. Create and deploy the DistributionInfo.json file for the distribution with the remote URL (not file:///) that points to distro file.
3. Verify by the wsl --list --online command that the distribution is listed correctly.
4. Attempt to install the distribution using the wsl --install <Distro> command
5. The installation process fails

Expected Behavior

Downloading: Ubuntu
Installing:
Distribution successfully installed.

Actual Behavior

Downloading: Ubuntu
Arithmetic result exceeded 32 bits. ============ ]
Error code: Wsl/InstallDistro/0x80070216

Diagnostic Logs

No response

[github-actions]

Logs are required for review from WSL team

If this a feature request, please reply with '/feature'. If this is a question, reply with '/question'.
Otherwise please attach logs by following the instructions below, your issue will not be reviewed unless they are added. These logs will help us understand what is going on in your machine.

How to collect WSL logs

Download and execute collect-wsl-logs.ps1 in an administrative powershell prompt:

Invoke-WebRequest -UseBasicParsing "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/microsoft/WSL/master/diagnostics/collect-wsl-logs.ps1" -OutFile collect-wsl-logs.ps1
Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force
.\collect-wsl-logs.ps1

The script will output the path of the log file once done.

If this is a networking issue, please use collect-networking-logs.ps1, following the instructions here

Once completed please upload the output files to this Github issue.

Click here for more info on logging
If you choose to email these logs instead of attaching to the bug, please send them to wsl-gh-logs@microsoft.com with the number of the github issue in the subject, and in the message a link to your comment in the github issue and reply with '/emailed-logs'.

[JersyJ]

Log File -> WslLogs-2025-04-09_18-31-10.zip

Unfortunately, the logs.etl file is not included due to sensitive information.

[github-actions]

No logs.etl found in the archive. Make sure that you ran collect-wsl-logs.ps1 as administrator and that the logs.etl file is in the archive.

Diagnostic information

Appx package is not installed
No logs.etl found in archive.
Error while parsing the logs. See action page for details

[JersyJ]

/emailed-logs

This time included all the files.

[github-actions]

Diagnostic information

Found '/emailed-logs', adding tag 'emailed-logs'

[OneBlue]

Fixed in 2.5.7