Docker Desktop encounters symlink error on opening

[ryschwith]

Description

When I launch Docker Desktop on my Windows 11 machine, either with administrator privileges or without, it throws an unexpected error and then forces me to quit (see screenshot).

I am unable to use the application. This occurs with both 4.36 and 4.38 and has persisted through numerous restarts and reinstalls.

Reproduce

1. Download and install Docker Desktop 4.36 or 4.38
2. Launch Docker Desktop from the start menu, with or without administrative privileges
3. Observe error message

Expected behavior

Docker Desktop launches successfully and is usable.

docker version

Client:
 Version:           27.3.1
 API version:       1.47
 Go version:        go1.22.7
 Git commit:        ce12230
 Built:             Fri Sep 20 11:42:27 2024
 OS/Arch:           windows/amd64
 Context:           desktop-windows
request returned Internal Server Error for API route and version http://%2F%2F.%2Fpipe%2FdockerDesktopWindowsEngine/v1.47/version, check if the server supports the requested API version

docker info

Client:
 Version:    27.3.1
 Context:    desktop-windows
 Debug Mode: false
 Plugins:
  ai: Ask Gordon - Docker Agent (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.1.0
    Path:     C:\Users\m5082\.docker\cli-plugins\docker-ai.exe
  buildx: Docker Buildx (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.18.0-desktop.2
    Path:     C:\Users\m5082\.docker\cli-plugins\docker-buildx.exe
  compose: Docker Compose (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v2.30.3-desktop.1
    Path:     C:\Users\m5082\.docker\cli-plugins\docker-compose.exe
  debug: Get a shell into any image or container (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  0.0.37
    Path:     C:\Users\m5082\.docker\cli-plugins\docker-debug.exe
  desktop: Docker Desktop commands (Alpha) (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.0.15
    Path:     C:\Users\m5082\.docker\cli-plugins\docker-desktop.exe
  dev: Docker Dev Environments (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.1.2
    Path:     C:\Users\m5082\.docker\cli-plugins\docker-dev.exe
  extension: Manages Docker extensions (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v0.2.27
    Path:     C:\Users\m5082\.docker\cli-plugins\docker-extension.exe
  feedback: Provide feedback, right in your terminal! (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v1.0.5
    Path:     C:\Users\m5082\.docker\cli-plugins\docker-feedback.exe
  init: Creates Docker-related starter files for your project (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v1.4.0
    Path:     C:\Users\m5082\.docker\cli-plugins\docker-init.exe
  sbom: View the packaged-based Software Bill Of Materials (SBOM) for an image (Anchore Inc.)
    Version:  0.6.0
    Path:     C:\Users\m5082\.docker\cli-plugins\docker-sbom.exe
  scout: Docker Scout (Docker Inc.)
    Version:  v1.15.0
    Path:     C:\Users\m5082\.docker\cli-plugins\docker-scout.exe

Server:
ERROR: request returned Internal Server Error for API route and version http://%2F%2F.%2Fpipe%2FdockerDesktopWindowsEngine/v1.47/info, check if the server supports the requested API version
errors pretty printing info

Diagnostics ID

FD079587-BA1A-4A62-98D6-84CFD7504F10/20250226155250

Additional Info

I believe this may be a conflict with OneDrive. Listing symlinks on my system shows the size of the identified file in parentheses, indicating that it's placeholder file. However, disabling OneDrive temporarily did not allow Docker Desktop to run as expected.