NVIDIA AI Workbench installation Error

AI & Data Science NVIDIA AI Workbench
1

Hello,

I’m trying to install NVIDIA AI Workbench on Windows 11 (using the latest NIM installer, version 0.1.10). The installation consistently fails because the WSL2 distribution archive workbench.tar.gz is missing at:

C:\Program Files\NVIDIA AI Workbench\resources\distros\workbench.tar.gz

As a result, the WSL distro NVIDIA-Workbench is never imported, and the setup fails silently.

System details:

  • Windows 11 (22H2)
  • GeForce RTX 4090
  • WSL2 + Ubuntu installed
  • Docker Desktop installed but disabled during install

Do you know why this is happening?

Could you please provide a direct download link or send me the correct workbench.tar.gz file so I can manually import it via WSL?

Screenshot 2025-07-23 184855
Screenshot 2025-07-23 184855588×439 30.6 KB

Thank you

2

what happens if you just try to install ai workbench without using the NIM installer?

3

Thank you for your reply, I’ve tried to install it by following these instructions here.

I’ve used the AI Workbench Installer but I get Application Error when I open it.

Screenshot 2025-07-24 092330
Screenshot 2025-07-24 092330943×629 20.8 KB

4

Try these steps:

1- Try the Installer Without NIM

2- Use the Latest Installer

3- Enable WSL Import & Troubleshoot Manually, Make sure WSL and the Virtual Machine Platform Windows Features are enabled.

5

@daya.s - you rock!

I think there are complications caused by first going with the NIM installer.

Let me loop in the relevant team.

6

Both the NVIDIA Installer and AI Workbench are still not working on my side. Is there a way I can do a completely fresh start to reset things?

7

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you.

First, uninstall AI Workbench by following these steps: Install, Update, and Uninstall on Windows — NVIDIA AI Workbench User Guide

You should also unregister the related WSL distro, NVIDIA-Workbench. The command is in that same section.

Then, uninstall the NVIDIA NIM Installer by going to Add or remove programs in your Windows and selecting the program for removal.

After that, I would restart your laptop.

Finally, follow the instructions here to install AI Workbench.

I advise you to avoid the NVIDIA Installer in the future.