docker cannot start on windows

Question

Executing docker version returns the following results.

C:\Projects> docker version
Client:
 Version:      1.13.0-dev
 API version:  1.25
 Go version:   go1.7.3
 Git commit:   d8d3314
 Built:        Tue Nov  1 03:05:34 2016
 OS/Arch:      windows/amd64
error during connect: Get http://%2F%2F.%2Fpipe%2Fdocker_engine/v1.25/version: open //./pipe/docker_engine: The system cannot find the file
specified. In the default daemon configuration on Windows, the docker client must be run elevated to connect. This error may also indicate that the docker daemon is not running.

Running the diagnostics produces the following:

C:\Projects> wget https://github.com/Microsoft/Virtualization- 
Documentation/raw/master/windows-server-container-tools/Debug- 
ContainerHost/Debug-ContainerHost.ps1 -UseBasicParsin | iex

Checking for common problems
Describing Windows Version and Prerequisites
 [+] Is Windows 10 Anniversary Update or Windows Server 2016 608ms
 [+] Has KB3192366, KB3194496, or later installed if running Windows build 14393 141ms
 [+] Is not a build with blocking issues 29ms
Describing Docker is installed
 [-] A Docker service is installed - 'Docker' or 'com.Docker.Service'  134ms
   Expected: value to not be empty
   27:         $services | Should Not BeNullOrEmpty
   at <ScriptBlock>, <No file>: line 27
 [+] Service is running 127ms
 [+] Docker.exe is in path 2.14s
Describing User has permissions to use Docker daemon
 [+] docker.exe should not return access denied 42ms
Describing Windows container settings are correct
 [-] Do not have DisableVSmbOplock set to 1 53ms
   Expected: {0}
   But was:  {1}
   66:              $regvalue.VSmbDisableOplocks | Should Be 0
   at <ScriptBlock>, <No file>: line 66
 [+] Do not have zz values set 42ms
Describing The right container base images are installed
error during connect: Get http://%2F%2F.%2Fpipe%2Fdocker_engine/v1.25/images/json: open //./pipe/docker_engine: The system cannot find the file specified. In the default daemon configuration on Windows, the docker client must be run elevated to connect. This error may also indicate that the docker daemon is not running.
 [-] At least one of 'microsoft/windowsservercore' or 'microsoft/nanoserver' should be installed 129ms
   ValidationMetadataException: The argument is null or empty. Provide an argument that is not null or empty, and then try the command again.
   ParameterBindingValidationException: Cannot validate argument on parameter 'Property'. The argument is null or empty. Provide an argument that is not null or empty, and then try the command again.
   at <ScriptBlock>, <No file>: line 90
Describing Container network is created
 [-] Error occurred in Describe block 1.08s
   RuntimeException: Cannot index into a null array.
   at <ScriptBlock>, <No file>: line 119
Showing output from: docker info

Showing output from: docker version
Client:
 Version:      1.13.0-dev
 API version:  1.25
 Go version:   go1.7.3
 Git commit:   d8d3314
 Built:        Tue Nov  1 03:05:34 2016
 OS/Arch:      windows/amd64

Showing output from: docker network ls

Warnings & errors from the last 24 hours
Logs saved to C:\Projects\logs_20161107-084122.csv
C:\Projects>

Answer 1

1st start Powershell "as Administrator" that will also prevent the error you got from docker version.

The try to start the docker service: start-service docker If that fails delete the docker.pid file you will find with cd $env:programfiles\docker; rm docker.pid
Finally you should change HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Virtualization\Containers\VSmbDisableOplocks to 0 or delete the value.

Answer 2

For me, the answer was to turn off a VPN service. While at work, connected to a VPN, I get the error mentioned. I switch off the VPN, and then docker worked as expected on Windows 10. The command below (when complete) drops you to the interactive python prompt ">>>" and pre-installs simplejson and requests

docker run --rm -ti -v `pwd`:/tmp jfloff/alpine-python:2.7-slim -p simplejson -p requests

Answer 3

This is the final solution.. its works for me...!!

1) Find the whale in your system tray, and right click

2) Go to settings > Reset

3) Reset to factory defaults

Answer 4

I run in to the same problem. I solved this by enabling hyper-v.

1. Enable virtualization in BIOS
2. Install hyper-v

Answer 5

If you have installed docker on Windows 10 Pro with Hyper-V enabled and still you are not able to run Docker on Windows 10, then as the error suggests that your docker daemon is not started. Follow following steps it helped me to start docker successfully-
1. Use command on CMD(Admin mode) docker-machine restart default then you will get msg like "open C:\User\{User_name}\.docker\machine\machines\default\config.json: The system cannot find the file specified." Go to the docker icon which will be on your windows tray(Right corner of the desktop). Then Right click on the docker icon -> setting-> Reset -> Restart Docker It will take few moments then you will see the message "Docker is running with the green indicator".
Note- If you have already had running Docker containers running on your system then don't follow these steps. You may loose the exiting containers.

Answer 6

You can C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker>DockerCli.exe -SwitchDaemon and point Docker CLI to either Linux or Windows containers. This worked for me.