Upgrading VMware Tools results in the loss of VMXNET3 driver, video drivers and the MSVCR71.dll file

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• After upgrading VMware Tools from version ESXi 5.1 Update 2 (Build 1479193) to 5.5 GA (Build 1331820), VMXNET3 and video drivers are removed after the reboot.
• After upgrading VMware Tools from version ESXi 5.0.1 to 5.1 Update 2, the MSVCR71.dll file is removed from the Windows guest operating System.
  
• In the vminst.log file, you see entries similar to:
  
  

  tools-build-1479193: 02/04/14 12:32:28 --- VMUninstallVMXNet3Driver() : Uninstalling vmxnet3 driver
  tools-build-1479193: 02/04/14 12:32:28 INFO: Uninstalling vmxnet3 driver
  tools-build-1479193: 02/04/14 12:32:31 Cannot query key value HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\VMware, Inc.\Wnd: 2
  tools-build-1479193: 02/04/14 12:32:31 Migrating device ID PCI\VEN_15AD&DEV_07B0&SUBSYS_07B015AD to the best driver
  inst-build-1479193 : 02/04/14 12:32:31 I1:MoveToBestAndUninstallDriver: DiInstallDevice is available
  inst-build-1479193 : 02/04/14 12:32:31 I1:MoveDeviceToBestDriver: Attempting to move device PCI\VEN_15AD&DEV_07B0&SUBSYS_07B015AD&REV_01\FF565000C33795FE00 to the best driver
  inst-build-1479193 : 02/04/14 12:32:33 I1:MoveDeviceToBestDriver: Device can be disabled
  inst-build-1479193 : 02/04/14 12:32:33 I1:MoveDeviceToBestDriver: No drivers are available for PCI\VEN_15AD&DEV_07B0&SUBSYS_07B015AD&REV_01\FF565000C33795FE00
  inst-build-1479193 : 02/04/14 12:32:33 E1:MoveDeviceToBestDriver: Removing device PCI\VEN_15AD&DEV_07B0&SUBSYS_07B015AD&REV_01\FF565000C33795FE00
  inst-build-1479193 : 02/04/14 12:32:33 I1:MoveToBestAndUninstallDriver: found 1 devices that matched instance ID PCI\VEN_15AD&DEV_07B0&SUBSYS_07B015AD&REV_01\FF565000C33795FE00
  inst-build-1479193 : 02/04/14 12:32:33 I1:MoveToBestAndUninstallDriver: have list of removed devices, selective reenumerate
  inst-build-1479193 : 02/04/14 12:32:33 I1:MoveToBestAndUninstallDriver: Set non-interactive, prior = interactive
  inst-build-1479193 : 02/04/14 12:32:33 I1:MoveToBestAndUninstallDriver: switching PCI\VEN_15AD&DEV_07B0&SUBSYS_07B015AD&REV_01\FF565000C33795FE00 to NULL was successful
  inst-build-1479193 : 02/04/14 12:32:33 I1:MoveToBestAndUninstallDriver: Restored prior non-interactive mode
  tools-build-1479193: 02/04/14 12:32:33 Migrated device instance PCI\VEN_15AD&DEV_07B0&SUBSYS_07B015AD&REV_01\FF565000C33795FE00 to best driver
  tools-build-1479193: 02/04/14 12:32:33 End Logging

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.5
VMware vSphere ESXi 5.1

Cause

This issue occurs when the current version of installed VMware Tools related drivers are newer than the drivers present within the VMware Tools install in progress. If the installation detects a newer version of a driver being installed, it will remove the drivers without installing the older versions.

Resolution

This is a known issue affecting ESXi 5.1 Update 2 and ESXi 5.5 GA (Build 1331820).

To work around this issue, re-install the VMware Tools.

Additional Information

Notes:

• Upgrade from VMware Tools 5.1 Update 1 to 5.5 GA is not affected.
• Upgrade from VMware Tools 5.1 Update 2 to 5.5 Update 1 is not affected.
  

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