Error starting DockerDesktopVM on Windows 10 "unable to allocate 2048 MB of RAM"

Every time I try to start Docker now I get this error message. In typical style, the Docker support team is not responding with helpful hints or a fix, other than "Try Resetting to Factory Settings", which results in a similar error (see below).

I have 32 GB RAM installed in a Windows 10 (Build v10.0.18363 Build 18363) on Dell Precision 7530 laptop hardware. I am NOT using Windows 10 WSL.

I am running Docker Desktop Community Edition v2.2.05 (43884) Channel "Stable" with Engine 19.03.8, Compose v1.25.4:

What I Have Tried to Solve the Problem

1) "Resetting" DockerDesktop to Factory Settings is the recommended solution, which is very heavy handed since it can effectively remove all containers and images. But this does not help. This gives a variant of the same error message. (see error messages far below)

2) Uninstalling and reinstalling the latest version of DockerDesktop CE works for a while, but then the same error starts again without any indication of why. Rebooting Windows 10 to free up more RAM does not help.

Docker.Core.DockerException: Docker.Core.Backend.BackendDestroyException: Unable to start Hyper-V VM: 'DockerDesktopVM' failed to start.

Unable to allocate 2048 MB of RAM: Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service. (0x800705AA).

'DockerDesktopVM' failed to start. (Virtual machine ID 6C60E2ED-5F89-433A-B932-32D715F52FDA)

'DockerDesktopVM' is unable to allocate 2048 MB of RAM: Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service. (0x800705AA). (Virtual machine ID 6C60E2ED-5F89-433A-B932-32D715F52FDA) at Start-MobyLinuxVM, : line 688 at , : line 811 at Docker.Backend.ContainerEngine.Linux.Start(Settings settings, String daemonOptions, Credential credential) at Docker.Backend.BackendNamedPipeServer.b__8_2(Object[] args) at Docker.Core.Pipe.NamedPipeServer.<>c__DisplayClass9_0.b__0(Object[] parameters) at Docker.Core.Pipe.NamedPipeServer.RunAction(String action, Object[] parameters)

System.Management.Automation.RuntimeException: Unable to start Hyper-V VM: 'DockerDesktopVM' failed to start.

Unable to allocate 2048 MB of RAM: Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service. (0x800705AA). 'DockerDesktopVM' failed to start. (Virtual machine ID 6C60E2ED-5F89-433A-B932-32D715F52FDA)

'DockerDesktopVM' is unable to allocate 2048 MB of RAM: Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service. (0x800705AA). (Virtual machine ID 6C60E2ED-5F89-433A-B932-32D715F52FDA) at Start-MobyLinuxVM, : line 688 at , : line 811 at Docker.Backend.ContainerEngine.Linux.DoStart(Settings settings, String daemonOptions, Credential credential) at Docker.Backend.ContainerEngine.Linux.Start(Settings settings, String daemonOptions, Credential credential)

 Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.VirtualizationException:
 'DockerDesktopVM' failed to start.

Unable to allocate 2048 MB of RAM: Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service. (0x800705AA).

 'DockerDesktopVM' failed to start. (Virtual machine ID 6C60E2ED-5F89-433A-B932-32D715F52FDA)

'DockerDesktopVM' is unable to allocate 2048 MB of RAM: Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service. (0x800705AA). (Virtual machine ID 6C60E2ED-5F89-433A-B932-32D715F52FDA)

     Microsoft.Virtualization.Client.Management.VirtualizationOperationFailedException:
     'DockerDesktopVM' failed to start.

Unable to allocate 2048 MB of RAM: Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service. (0x800705AA). at Microsoft.Virtualization.Client.Management.View.EndMethodReturnInternal(IVMTask task, VirtualizationOperation operation, Boolean affectedElementExpected) at Microsoft.Virtualization.Client.Management.VMComputerSystemBaseView.EndSetState(IVMTask setStateTask) at Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.ExtensionMethods.OperationWatcherExtensions.<>c__DisplayClass4_01.<ConvertActionToFunction>b__0(T x) at Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.ExtensionMethods.OperationWatcherExtensions.PerformOperationWithReturn[T](IOperationWatcher watcher, Func1 startTaskMethod, Func2 endTaskMethod, String taskDescription, VirtualizationObject targetObject) at Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.VirtualMachine.ChangeState(VirtualMachineAction action, IOperationWatcher operationWatcher) at Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.Commands.StartVM.ProcessOneOperand(VirtualMachine vm, IOperationWatcher operationWatcher) at Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.Commands.VirtualizationCmdlet1.ProcessOperands(IList`1 operands, IOperationWatcher operationWatcher) at Docker.Core.Pipe.NamedPipeClient.d__5.MoveNext() --- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown --- at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw() at Docker.Core.Pipe.NamedPipeClient.Send(String action, Object[] parameters) at Docker.Actions.DoStart(SynchronizationContext syncCtx, Boolean showWelcomeWindow, Boolean withNotifications) at Docker.Actions.<>c__DisplayClass30_0.b__0() at Docker.ApiServices.TaskQueuing.TaskQueue.<>c__DisplayClass18_0.<.ctor>b__1()

#

This is not a Hyper-V issue either because when I try to start DockerDesktopVM after starting Hyper-V in Windows 10, I get the following error from DockerDesktopVM:

#

Hyper-V Manager An error occurred while attempting to start the selected virtual machine(s). 'DockerDesktopVM' failed to start. Unable to allocate 2C48 MB of RAM: Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service. (Dx8D0705AA). 'DockerDesktopVM' failed to start. (Virtual machine ID 6C60E2ED-5F8-g 433A 8932 32D715F52FDA) 'DockerDesktopVM' is unable to allocate 2C48 MB of RAM: Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service. (Dx8D0705AA). (Virtual machine ID 6C60E2ED-5F8-g 433A 8932 32D715F52FDA)

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After the "Resetting DockerDesktop" operation I get basically the same error result.

#

Docker.Core.DockerException: Docker.Core.Backend.BackendException: Unable to start Hyper-V VM: 'DockerDesktopVM' failed to start.

Unable to allocate 2048 MB of RAM: Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service. (0x800705AA).

'DockerDesktopVM' failed to start. (Virtual machine ID 6C60E2ED-5F89-433A-B932-32D715F52FDA)

'DockerDesktopVM' is unable to allocate 2048 MB of RAM: Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service. (0x800705AA). (Virtual machine ID 6C60E2ED-5F89-433A-B932-32D715F52FDA) at Start-MobyLinuxVM, : line 688 at , : line 811

System.Management.Automation.RuntimeException: Unable to start Hyper-V VM: 'DockerDesktopVM' failed to start.

Unable to allocate 2048 MB of RAM: Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service. (0x800705AA). 'DockerDesktopVM' failed to start. (Virtual machine ID 6C60E2ED-5F89-433A-B932-32D715F52FDA)

'DockerDesktopVM' is unable to allocate 2048 MB of RAM: Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service. (0x800705AA). (Virtual machine ID 6C60E2ED-5F89-433A-B932-32D715F52FDA) at Start-MobyLinuxVM, : line 688 at , : line 811 at Docker.Backend.ContainerEngine.Linux.DoStart(Settings settings, String daemonOptions, Credential credential) at Docker.Backend.ContainerEngine.Linux.Restart(Settings settings, String daemonOptions, Credential credential) at Docker.Backend.BackendNamedPipeServer.b__8_3(Object[] args) at Docker.Core.Pipe.NamedPipeServer.<>c__DisplayClass9_0.b__0(Object[] parameters) at Docker.Core.Pipe.NamedPipeServer.RunAction(String action, Object[] parameters)

 Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.VirtualizationException:
 'DockerDesktopVM' failed to start.

Unable to allocate 2048 MB of RAM: Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service. (0x800705AA).

 'DockerDesktopVM' failed to start. (Virtual machine ID 6C60E2ED-5F89-433A-B932-32D715F52FDA)

'DockerDesktopVM' is unable to allocate 2048 MB of RAM: Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service. (0x800705AA). (Virtual machine ID 6C60E2ED-5F89-433A-B932-32D715F52FDA)

     Microsoft.Virtualization.Client.Management.VirtualizationOperationFailedException:
     'DockerDesktopVM' failed to start.

Unable to allocate 2048 MB of RAM: Insufficient system resources exist to complete the requested service. (0x800705AA). at Microsoft.Virtualization.Client.Management.View.EndMethodReturnInternal(IVMTask task, VirtualizationOperation operation, Boolean affectedElementExpected) at Microsoft.Virtualization.Client.Management.VMComputerSystemBaseView.EndSetState(IVMTask setStateTask) at Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.ExtensionMethods.OperationWatcherExtensions.<>c__DisplayClass4_01.<ConvertActionToFunction>b__0(T x) at Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.ExtensionMethods.OperationWatcherExtensions.PerformOperationWithReturn[T](IOperationWatcher watcher, Func1 startTaskMethod, Func2 endTaskMethod, String taskDescription, VirtualizationObject targetObject) at Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.VirtualMachine.ChangeState(VirtualMachineAction action, IOperationWatcher operationWatcher) at Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.Commands.StartVM.ProcessOneOperand(VirtualMachine vm, IOperationWatcher operationWatcher) at Microsoft.HyperV.PowerShell.Commands.VirtualizationCmdlet1.ProcessOperands(IList`1 operands, IOperationWatcher operationWatcher) at Docker.Core.Pipe.NamedPipeClient.d__5.MoveNext() --- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown --- at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw() at Docker.Core.Pipe.NamedPipeClient.Send(String action, Object[] parameters) at Docker.Actions.DoRestartVM(Settings previousSettings) at Docker.Actions.<>c__DisplayClass34_0.b__0() at Docker.ApiServices.TaskQueuing.TaskQueue.<>c__DisplayClass18_0.<.ctor>b__1()

Have you tried increase the amount of memory used by docker?

Tray menu docker -> Preferences -> resources