Upgrading VMware Tools from 4.x to 5.1 fails with the error: This application has requested the Runtime to terminate in an unusual way

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Upgrading VMware Tools from 4.x to 5.1 fails.
• You see the error:
  
  MS Visual C++ Runtime Lib Runtime Error! Program: C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\TPVCGateway.exe. This application has requested the Runtime to terminate in an unusual way. Please contact the application's support team for more information.
  
  

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 5.1
VMware vCenter Server 5.1.x

Cause

This issue occurs when the TPVCGateway.exe service and the TPAutoConnect.exe service are missing from the guest operating system.

Resolution

This issue is resolved in ESXi 4.1 Update 1. For more information about this version, see the ESXi 4.1 Update 1. You can download the latest release from the VMware Download Center. Apply this update to the host and VMware Tools before upgrading to Tools in ESXi 5.1.

To work around the issue when you cannot upgrade, install the missing services before upgrading Tools.

To install the missing services before upgrading VMware Tools:

1. Open a command prompt as Administrator on the guest OS.
2. Navigate to the directory C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools.
3. Run the command:
   
   TPVCGateway.exe -q -install
   
4. Run the command:
   
   TPAutoConnect.exe -q -install