Docker Desktop gives "Docker failed to initialize"

Docker Desktop
1

I downloaded the current version of Docker Desktop and installed it, deselecting WSL2 (I want to run only Windows containers), on a VirtualBox VM running current Windows 10 Professional.

Windows Containers optional feature is enabled.

But when starting Docker Desktop just gives me a white messagebox informing me that “Docker failed to initialize” and after a while a .NET Framework unhandled exception.

Docker works for me with Windows containers on Windows Server and DockerMSFTProvider.

What am I doing wrong? Does Docker Desktop require Hyper-V even for Windows containers with process isolation? I have no need for Linux containers.

2

I was having the same error when I downloaded a Windows 10 Pro update recently. It probably wasn’t the same issue you are having though because I just fixed my problem by uninstalling and then reinstalling Docker. I’m not certain, but I think Docker may need Hyper-V to be enabled on Windows 10 regardless of how you use it. This requires that you have Windows 10 Pro.

3

Hi,

I just installed docker for windows for the first time, blindly followed the instruction (this is the first time I try docker)
after installation of docker and the Windows Subsystem for Linux, i restarted the computer, I didn’t open the app but after a few seconds I got a “visual studio just-in-time dubugger” error saying:

An unhandled Microsoft .NET Framework exception occurred in [15164] Docker Desktop.exe. Just-In-Time debugging this exception failed with the following error: No installed debugger has Just-In-Time debugging enabled. In Visual Studio, Just-In-Time debugging can be enabled from Tools/Options/Debugging/Just-In-Time

is this the error you get?
Did you find a solution?

4

You cannot run docker and other VM service like (VirtualBox or VMware) at the same time in desktop windows environment.

To use docker uninstall any Hyper-V or virtualization service and run docker again.

5

Then what’s the point of the Windows container feature??

6

I think you should be able to run Windows containers with process isolation without Hyper-V. What you can’t do probably (and correct me if I am wrong) is install Docker Desktop without both Hyper-V and WSL 2. I tried Windows containers without Hyper-V but I installed the Desktop with WSL 2.