Unexpected message about WSA failing to start


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pokeefe0001

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Today I got a notification popup saying that WSA failed to start because Hyper-V was not enabled. (I don't remember the exact verbiage and the message left no footprints so I can't check.) I suppose I may have been getting this message for weeks and was just not looking when the popup was displayed. In any case, the message is absolutely correct: I have WSA installed, haven't tried using it for probably 3 weeks, don't want to be using it now, and have had Hyper-V turned off for at least 2 weeks.

Why is Windows even trying to start WSA? Does it start on it's own without my requesting it? If so, do I have to uninstall it to keep it from trying to start? If so, is that also the case with WSL? I haven't seen any messages about it, but I may have just missed them.
 
Windows Build/Version
Win 11 Pro x64 22000.978

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8400
    Motherboard
    ASUS PRIME H370-PLUS
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    On board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 2043BWX
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 256GB
    WDC 1TB NVMe
    WD 3TB external USB drive
    PSU
    I don't remember
    Case
    Corsair something-or-other
    Cooling
    Air CPU + 2 case fans
    Keyboard
    DAS S Pro (Cherry Brown)
    Mouse
    Logitech USB of some sort
pokeefe0001 said:
Today I got a notification popup saying that WSA failed to start because Hyper-V was not enabled. (I don't remember the exact verbiage and the message left no footprints so I can't check.) I suppose I may have been getting this message for weeks and was just not looking when the popup was displayed. In any case, the message is absolutely correct: I have WSA installed, haven't tried using it for probably 3 weeks, don't want to be using it now, and have had Hyper-V turned off for at least 2 weeks.

Why is Windows even trying to start WSA? Does it start on it's own without my requesting it? If so, do I have to uninstall it to keep it from trying to start? If so, is that also the case with WSL? I haven't seen any messages about it, but I may have just missed them.
Click to expand...


I have no clue about WSA, but Appauls usually has good advice/solutions...

appuals.com

How to Fix WSA Not Working on Windows 11?

Some Windows 11 users are reporting that the WSA (Windows Subsystem for Android) functionality is not working at all on Windows 11. Most affected users
appuals.com appuals.com
 

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    Windows XP Pro 32bit w/SP3
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    Still assembled, still runs. Haven't turned it on for 13 years?
pokeefe0001 said:
Today I got a notification popup saying that WSA failed to start because Hyper-V was not enabled. (I don't remember the exact verbiage and the message left no footprints so I can't check.) I suppose I may have been getting this message for weeks and was just not looking when the popup was displayed. In any case, the message is absolutely correct: I have WSA installed, haven't tried using it for probably 3 weeks, don't want to be using it now, and have had Hyper-V turned off for at least 2 weeks.

Why is Windows even trying to start WSA? Does it start on it's own without my requesting it? If so, do I have to uninstall it to keep it from trying to start? If so, is that also the case with WSL? I haven't seen any messages about it, but I may have just missed them.
Click to expand...
I've used WSA, and never enabled Hyper-V. I enabled Virtual Machine Platform only. Not currently using it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 (RP channel)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Gigabyte
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 5900X 12-core
    Motherboard
    X570 Aorus Xtreme
    Memory
    64GB Corsair Platinum RGB 3600MHz CL16
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    MSI Suprim X 3080 Ti
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    Soundblaster AE-5 Plus
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    ASUS TUF Gaming VG289Q
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    3840x2160
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    Samsung 990 Pro 2TB
    Samsung 980 Pro 2TB
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    Samsung T7 Touch 1TB
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    Asus ROG Strix 1000W
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    Corsair D750 Airflow
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    Noctua NH-D15S
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    Asus ROG Flare
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    Logitech G903 with PowerPlay charger
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    500Mb/sec
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
WSA uses the Machine Platform Hypervisor which starts automatically each time you login. WSA is only used for the Amazon Appstore.

If you are not using it, I would uninstall Machine Platform Hypervisor from Windows Features menu.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro + others in VHDs
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Vivobook 14
    CPU
    I7
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Optane NVME SSD, 1 TB NVME SSD
    PSU
    Yep, got one
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wired
    Internet Speed
    72 Mb/s :-(
    Browser
    Edge mostly
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0
cereberus said:
WSA uses the Machine Platform Hypervisor which starts automatically each time you login. WSA is only used for the Amazon Appstore.

If you are not using it, I would uninstall Machine Platform Hypervisor from Windows Features menu.
Click to expand...
I was using a modified WSA that used Google Play rather than Amazon Appstore, but I'm not using either any more. (I don't remember which Android emulator I finally ended up using - LDPlayer, maybe.) I'll delete WSA and turn off Hyper-V Platform. I think Macrium Reflect's viBoot needs the platform, but I can always turn it back on when I need viBoot.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8400
    Motherboard
    ASUS PRIME H370-PLUS
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    On board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 2043BWX
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 256GB
    WDC 1TB NVMe
    WD 3TB external USB drive
    PSU
    I don't remember
    Case
    Corsair something-or-other
    Cooling
    Air CPU + 2 case fans
    Keyboard
    DAS S Pro (Cherry Brown)
    Mouse
    Logitech USB of some sort
pokeefe0001 said:
I was using a modified WSA that used Google Play rather than Amazon Appstore, but I'm not using either any more. (I don't remember which Android emulator I finally ended up using - LDPlayer, maybe.) I'll delete WSA and turn off Hyper-V Platform. I think Macrium Reflect's viBoot needs the platform, but I can always turn it back on when I need viBoot.
Click to expand...

There could be something in Task Scheduler that is searching for google updates?

You can do a bcdedit that turns off the hyper-v hypervisor if you prefer.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro + others in VHDs
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Vivobook 14
    CPU
    I7
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Optane NVME SSD, 1 TB NVME SSD
    PSU
    Yep, got one
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wired
    Internet Speed
    72 Mb/s :-(
    Browser
    Edge mostly
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0
Interesting. I found the Amazon Appstore in my Start list. I wasn't expecting that so I uninstalled it. An error popup flashed but was gone before I could read it. (No event log or notification was created.) Now I can find not evidence of WSA anywhere.

The WSA failed to start message appeared only once ... that I've seen. I won't worry unless I see it again.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microsoft
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-8400
    Motherboard
    ASUS PRIME H370-PLUS
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    On board
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung SyncMaster 2043BWX
    Screen Resolution
    1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    Samsung SSD 850 256GB
    WDC 1TB NVMe
    WD 3TB external USB drive
    PSU
    I don't remember
    Case
    Corsair something-or-other
    Cooling
    Air CPU + 2 case fans
    Keyboard
    DAS S Pro (Cherry Brown)
    Mouse
    Logitech USB of some sort
pokeefe0001 said:
Interesting. I found the Amazon Appstore in my Start list. I wasn't expecting that so I uninstalled it. An error popup flashed but was gone before I could read it. (No event log or notification was created.) Now I can find not evidence of WSA anywhere.

The WSA failed to start message appeared only once ... that I've seen. I won't worry unless I see it again.
Click to expand...
I think you have got to the root cause of your errors. You may still have WSA running - to stop it completely, you need to untick Virtual Machine Platform. I suspect the error message about hyper-v was just a glitch - mind you MS do not really make things clear.

Back in the day, we only had 1 hypervisor and hyper-v was the gui interface, and the two things became synonymous.

However, the hypervisor has several parts to it and not all of the hyper-v hypervisor is needed for other functions e.g. defender Credential Guard. So a new Hypervisor "Windows Hypervisor Platform has been introduced which is just a subset of the hypervisor platform.

To muddy the waters, WHP also has APIs to allow type 2 hypervisors to run even if the Hyper-V Hypervisor is installed.

And finally to completely confuse us, there is the Virtual Machine Platform which allows virtualised apps to run virtually but as far as I can tell does not actually run virtual machines (at least in their entirety).

Confused? I as sure as hell was, and have done lots of googling and testing. Like everything, MS either treats us like 5 year olds "Ooh look at these cool emojis" or they treat us as mega-IT experts with a brain the size of a planet "the virtualised substack layer operates beneath the MSIX virtualised containers which are hardware protected against interactions from the kernel layer" (ok made that gobbeldygook up but you know what I mean LOL). They have a spectacular inability to target at the average sort of person who frequents these forums.

See my other post Clarifying Hypervisor requirements
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro + others in VHDs
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS Vivobook 14
    CPU
    I7
    Motherboard
    Yep, Laptop has one.
    Memory
    16 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel Iris XE
    Sound Card
    Realtek built in
    Monitor(s) Displays
    N/A
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Optane NVME SSD, 1 TB NVME SSD
    PSU
    Yep, got one
    Case
    Yep, got one
    Cooling
    Stella Artois
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Bluetooth , wired
    Internet Speed
    72 Mb/s :-(
    Browser
    Edge mostly
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    TPM 2.0
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