diff --git a/docs/get-started/windows-preparation.mdx b/docs/get-started/windows-preparation.mdx
index 5291642d33c..ec9138e1d8f 100644
--- a/docs/get-started/windows-preparation.mdx
+++ b/docs/get-started/windows-preparation.mdx
@@ -35,13 +35,15 @@ $ Invoke-WebRequest -Uri 'https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NVIDIA/NemoClaw/main
 The command downloads the script to a temporary file before running it.
 `-ExecutionPolicy Bypass` applies only to that PowerShell process and avoids local policy blocking the downloaded script.
 Run it from Windows, not from inside WSL.
-The script requests Administrator privileges when needed, enables the required WSL 2 Windows features, installs or opens Ubuntu, and installs and starts Docker Desktop.
-If Ubuntu is already registered, the script confirms it uses WSL 2, converts it from WSL 1 when needed, and verifies Docker is reachable from WSL.
+The script requests Administrator privileges when needed, enables the required WSL 2 Windows features, installs or opens Ubuntu 24.04, and installs and starts Docker Desktop.
+If the target Ubuntu distro is already registered, the script confirms it uses WSL 2, converts it from WSL 1 when needed, and verifies Docker is reachable from WSL.
 If Windows requires a reboot after enabling WSL features, the script prompts for the reboot and registers a one-time continuation for the next sign-in.
 If Docker Desktop shows first-run prompts, complete them and return to the PowerShell window.
 
 For advanced options, download the script first and run `Get-Help "$env:TEMP\bootstrap-windows.ps1" -Detailed`.
 Useful parameters include `-DistroName`, `-InstallerUrl`, `-InstallerArgs`, and `-InstallDockerDesktop`.
+The default distro is `Ubuntu-24.04`.
+To reuse an existing distro named `Ubuntu`, pass `-DistroName Ubuntu`.
 
 The bootstrap script does not install NemoClaw itself.
 When Windows preparation is complete, it opens Ubuntu and prints the standard installer command to run inside Ubuntu:
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ Reboot if prompted.
 After reboot, open an elevated PowerShell again:
 
 ```console
-$ wsl --install -d Ubuntu
+$ wsl --install -d Ubuntu-24.04
 ```
 
 Let the distribution launch and complete first-run setup (pick a Unix username and password), then type `exit` to return to PowerShell.
@@ -82,7 +84,7 @@ Let the distribution launch and complete first-run setup (pick a Unix username a
 <Warning>
 Do not use the `--no-launch` flag.
 The `--no-launch` flag downloads the package but does not register the distribution with WSL.
-Commands like `wsl -d Ubuntu` fail with "There is no distribution with the supplied name" until the distribution has been launched at least once.
+Commands like `wsl -d Ubuntu-24.04` fail with "There is no distribution with the supplied name" until the distribution has been launched at least once.
 </Warning>
 
 Verify the distribution is registered and running WSL 2:
@@ -94,8 +96,8 @@ $ wsl -l -v
 Expected output:
 
 ```text
-  NAME      STATE           VERSION
-* Ubuntu    Running         2
+  NAME            STATE           VERSION
+* Ubuntu-24.04    Running         2
 ```
 
 ## Install Docker Desktop
diff --git a/scripts/bootstrap-windows.ps1 b/scripts/bootstrap-windows.ps1
index b6cbeee29e2..de964361d73 100644
--- a/scripts/bootstrap-windows.ps1
+++ b/scripts/bootstrap-windows.ps1
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ $script:DockerDesktopExe = 'C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker\Docker Desktop.exe'
 $script:DockerCli = 'C:\Program Files\Docker\Docker\resources\bin\docker.exe'
 $script:WingetDockerId = 'Docker.DockerDesktop'
 $script:InstallerWindowTitle = "NVIDIA NemoClaw Installer ($PID)"
+$script:InstallDistroAtHandoff = $false
 
 function Write-Status {
     param(
@@ -655,7 +656,7 @@ function Ensure-WslDistroVersion2 {
 function Get-WslInstallCommandText {
     param([Parameter(Mandatory)] [string]$Name)
 
-    return "wsl --install $Name"
+    return "wsl --install -d $Name"
 }
 
 function Write-WslUbuntuRequiredNotice {
@@ -664,7 +665,7 @@ function Write-WslUbuntuRequiredNotice {
     Write-Host ''
     if ($Name -eq 'Ubuntu-24.04') {
         Write-Host 'NemoClaw on Windows ARM requires WSL2 Ubuntu 24.04.' -ForegroundColor Yellow
-        Write-Host 'Please run: wsl --install Ubuntu-24.04' -ForegroundColor Yellow
+        Write-Host "Please run: $(Get-WslInstallCommandText -Name $Name)" -ForegroundColor Yellow
         Write-Host 'Then re-run this installer.' -ForegroundColor Yellow
     } else {
         Write-Host "NemoClaw on Windows requires a WSL2 distro named $Name." -ForegroundColor Yellow
@@ -674,62 +675,18 @@ function Write-WslUbuntuRequiredNotice {
     Write-Host ''
 }
 
-function Wait-WslDistroRegistration {
-    param(
-        [Parameter(Mandatory)] [string]$Name,
-        [int]$TimeoutSeconds = 300
-    )
-
-    $deadline = (Get-Date).AddSeconds($TimeoutSeconds)
-    while ((Get-Date) -lt $deadline) {
-        $distros = Get-WslDistros
-        if ($distros -contains $Name) {
-            return $true
-        }
-        Start-Sleep -Seconds 5
-    }
-    return $false
-}
-
-function Install-WslDistro {
-    param([Parameter(Mandatory)] [string]$Name)
-
-    $wsl = Resolve-WslExe
-    $displayCommand = Get-WslInstallCommandText -Name $Name
-    Write-Status "$Name is not registered. Installing with: $displayCommand"
-    $installExitCode = Invoke-NativeCommand -FilePath $wsl -ArgumentList @('--install', $Name)
-    if ($installExitCode -ne 0) {
-        Write-Status -Level WARN "$displayCommand failed with exit code $installExitCode."
-        Write-WslUbuntuRequiredNotice -Name $Name
-        throw "Could not install WSL distro '$Name'."
-    }
-
-    if (-not (Wait-WslDistroRegistration -Name $Name)) {
-        Write-WslUbuntuRequiredNotice -Name $Name
-        throw "WSL distro '$Name' was not registered after running $displayCommand."
-    }
-}
-
 function Ensure-UbuntuWsl {
     $wsl = Resolve-WslExe
+    $script:InstallDistroAtHandoff = $false
 
-    $installedDistro = $false
     $distros = Get-WslDistros
     if ($distros -notcontains $DistroName) {
-        Install-WslDistro -Name $DistroName
-        $installedDistro = $true
-        $distros = Get-WslDistros
-        if ($distros -notcontains $DistroName) {
-            Write-WslUbuntuRequiredNotice -Name $DistroName
-            throw "WSL distro '$DistroName' is still not registered after install."
-        }
+        Write-Status "$DistroName is not registered yet. It will be installed during the final Ubuntu handoff."
+        $script:InstallDistroAtHandoff = $true
+        return
     }
 
-    if ($installedDistro) {
-        Write-Status "WSL distro registered: $DistroName"
-    } else {
-        Write-Status "WSL distro already registered: $DistroName"
-    }
+    Write-Status "WSL distro already registered: $DistroName"
 
     Ensure-WslDistroVersion2 -Name $DistroName
 
@@ -846,6 +803,11 @@ function Get-NemoClawInstallerCommand {
 function Open-UbuntuForInstaller {
     $wsl = Resolve-WslExe
     try {
+        if ($script:InstallDistroAtHandoff) {
+            Start-Process -FilePath $wsl -ArgumentList @('--install', '-d', $DistroName) | Out-Null
+            return
+        }
+
         $ubuntuLauncher = Resolve-UbuntuLauncher
         $windowsTerminal = Get-Command 'wt.exe' -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
         if ($windowsTerminal) {
@@ -863,6 +825,10 @@ function Open-UbuntuForInstaller {
         Start-Process -FilePath $wsl -ArgumentList @('-d', $DistroName) | Out-Null
     } catch {
         Write-Status -Level WARN "Could not open $DistroName automatically: $($_.Exception.Message)"
+        if ($script:InstallDistroAtHandoff) {
+            Write-WslUbuntuRequiredNotice -Name $DistroName
+            throw
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -871,7 +837,11 @@ function Write-InstallerHandoff {
     Write-Host ''
     Write-Host 'Windows preparation is complete.' -ForegroundColor Green
     Write-Host ''
-    Write-Host "An Ubuntu window is opening. Run this command inside Ubuntu to install NemoClaw:" -ForegroundColor Cyan
+    if ($script:InstallDistroAtHandoff) {
+        Write-Host "Ubuntu will install and launch in a separate window. After first-run setup completes, run this command inside Ubuntu to install NemoClaw:" -ForegroundColor Cyan
+    } else {
+        Write-Host "An Ubuntu window is opening. Run this command inside Ubuntu to install NemoClaw:" -ForegroundColor Cyan
+    }
     Write-Host ''
     Write-Host "  $installerCommand" -ForegroundColor White
     Write-Host ''
@@ -890,7 +860,11 @@ function Invoke-Main {
     Ensure-UbuntuWsl
     Install-DockerDesktop
     Start-DockerDesktop
-    Ensure-DockerWslIntegration
+    if ($script:InstallDistroAtHandoff) {
+        Write-Status "Skipping Docker-in-WSL verification until $DistroName is installed and first-run setup completes."
+    } else {
+        Ensure-DockerWslIntegration
+    }
     Write-DockerDesktopNotice
     Unregister-ResumeRunOnce
     Write-Status 'Windows preparation completed successfully.'
diff --git a/test/bootstrap-windows.test.ts b/test/bootstrap-windows.test.ts
index bcf9682ec9b..77f14d15a99 100644
--- a/test/bootstrap-windows.test.ts
+++ b/test/bootstrap-windows.test.ts
@@ -57,64 +57,63 @@ function runPowerShellHarness(script: string) {
 }
 
 describe("Windows bootstrap WSL distro preflight", () => {
-  itPowerShell("installs Ubuntu 24.04 before continuing when WSL has no registered distro", () => {
+  itPowerShell("defers missing Ubuntu 24.04 install to a separate handoff window", () => {
     const result = runPowerShellHarness(`
 $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
 . ${JSON.stringify(BOOTSTRAP_WINDOWS)}
 
-$script:getDistroCalls = 0
 $script:nativeCalls = @()
+$script:startProcessCalls = @()
 $script:statusMessages = @()
 
 function Resolve-WslExe { return 'wsl.exe' }
-function Get-WslDistros {
-  $script:getDistroCalls += 1
-  if ($script:getDistroCalls -eq 1) { return @() }
-  return @('Ubuntu-24.04')
-}
+function Get-WslDistros { return @() }
 function Invoke-NativeCommand {
   param([string]$FilePath, [string[]]$ArgumentList = @(), [switch]$SuppressOutput)
   $script:nativeCalls += ,@($FilePath, ($ArgumentList -join ' '))
   return 0
 }
-function Invoke-NativeCommandOutput {
-  param([string]$FilePath, [string[]]$ArgumentList = @(), [switch]$MergeError)
-  return [pscustomobject]@{ ExitCode = 0; Output = 'WSL_OK' }
+function Start-Process {
+  param([string]$FilePath, [string[]]$ArgumentList = @())
+  $script:startProcessCalls += ,@($FilePath, ($ArgumentList -join ' '))
+  return [pscustomobject]@{}
 }
-function Ensure-WslDistroVersion2 { param([string]$Name) }
 function Write-Status { param([string]$Message, [string]$Level = 'INFO') $script:statusMessages += $Message }
 
 Ensure-UbuntuWsl
+Open-UbuntuForInstaller
 
 [pscustomobject]@{
   nativeCalls = $script:nativeCalls
+  startProcessCalls = $script:startProcessCalls
   statusMessages = $script:statusMessages
+  installDistroAtHandoff = $script:InstallDistroAtHandoff
 } | ConvertTo-Json -Compress
 `);
 
     expect(result.status).toBe(0);
     expect(result.stderr).toBe("");
     const parsed = JSON.parse(result.stdout.trim());
-    expect(parsed.nativeCalls).toContainEqual(["wsl.exe", "--install Ubuntu-24.04"]);
-    expect(parsed.nativeCalls).toContainEqual(["wsl.exe", "--set-default Ubuntu-24.04"]);
-    expect(parsed.statusMessages).toContain("WSL distro registered: Ubuntu-24.04");
+    expect(parsed.installDistroAtHandoff).toBe(true);
+    expect(parsed.nativeCalls).toEqual([]);
+    expect(parsed.startProcessCalls).toContainEqual(["wsl.exe", "--install -d Ubuntu-24.04"]);
+    expect(parsed.statusMessages).toContain(
+      "Ubuntu-24.04 is not registered yet. It will be installed during the final Ubuntu handoff.",
+    );
   });
 
-  itPowerShell("prints the issue 3974 guidance when Ubuntu 24.04 cannot be installed", () => {
+  itPowerShell("prints the issue 3974 guidance when the deferred Ubuntu launch fails", () => {
     const result = runPowerShellHarness(`
 $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
 . ${JSON.stringify(BOOTSTRAP_WINDOWS)}
 
 function Resolve-WslExe { return 'wsl.exe' }
-function Get-WslDistros { return @() }
-function Invoke-NativeCommand {
-  param([string]$FilePath, [string[]]$ArgumentList = @(), [switch]$SuppressOutput)
-  return 42
-}
+function Start-Process { throw 'launch failed' }
 function Write-Status { param([string]$Message, [string]$Level = 'INFO') Write-Host $Message }
 
+$script:InstallDistroAtHandoff = $true
 try {
-  Ensure-UbuntuWsl
+  Open-UbuntuForInstaller
   Write-Host 'UNEXPECTED_SUCCESS'
   exit 3
 } catch {
@@ -125,8 +124,8 @@ try {
     expect(result.status).toBe(0);
     expect(result.stderr).toBe("");
     expect(result.stdout).toContain("NemoClaw on Windows ARM requires WSL2 Ubuntu 24.04.");
-    expect(result.stdout).toContain("Please run: wsl --install Ubuntu-24.04");
+    expect(result.stdout).toContain("Please run: wsl --install -d Ubuntu-24.04");
     expect(result.stdout).toContain("Then re-run this installer.");
-    expect(result.stdout).toContain("CAUGHT: Could not install WSL distro 'Ubuntu-24.04'.");
+    expect(result.stdout).toContain("CAUGHT: launch failed");
   });
 });