VGAuth service fails to function after updating VMware Tools

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

When updating from VMware Tools 10.0.0 to 10.0.5 in a Windows guest operating system, the following symptoms may appear.

• VGAuth service fails to function.
• In the VMware Tools installation log file (vminst.log):

[08:28:16:010]: Product: VMware Tools -- Error 1309. Error reading from file: C:\Sysadmin\Temp\vmwaretoolsextracted\VMware\VMware Tools\VMware VGAuth\VGAuthService.exe. System error 3. Verify that the file exists and that you can access it.
Error 1309. Error reading from file: C:\Sysadmin\Temp\vmwaretoolsextracted\VMware\VMware Tools\VMware VGAuth\VGAuthService.exe. System error 3. Verify that the file exists and that you can access it.
MSI (s) (58:6C) [08:28:16:019]: User policy value 'DisableRollback' is 0
MSI (s) (58:6C) [08:28:16:019]: Machine policy value 'DisableRollback' is 0 Action ended 8:28:16: InstallFinalize. Return value 3.
MSI (s) (58:6C) [08:28:16:273]: Product: VMware Tools -- Installation failed.
MSI (s) (58:6C) [08:28:16:274]: Windows Installer installed the product. Product Name: VMware Tools. Product Version: 10.0.5.3227872. Product Language: 1033. Manufacturer: VMware, Inc.. Installation success or error status: 1603.

Note: The preceding log excerpts are only examples. Date, time, and environmental variables may vary depending on the environment.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 6.0
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.5
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7

Resolution

VMware Tools 10.0.5 uses a lower version of VGAuth than VMware Tools 10.0.0. Files, such as VGAuth.dll, VGAuthCLI.exe and VGAuthService.exe, are not found after the upgrade. This results in the failure of VGAuth service in a Windows guest operating system.

 

Workarounds

1. Use Repair to upgrade VMware Tools to 10.0.5.
2. Reinstall VMware Tools 10.0.5 or upgrade to a higher version of VMware Tools.

Note: If unable to list the program, logout and login as administrator or with equivalent permission.

For more information on Upgrading or Reinstalling VMware Tools, see the Repair or Change Modules in Windows Virtual Machines section in the vSphere Documentation Center.
 

Accessing Repair for VMware Tools in a Windows operating system

Windows 10:

Start > Settings > System > Apps > Apps & Features. Click on VMware Tools. Select Advanced Options. Select Repair.
 

Windows 8, 8.1:

Right-click the screen's bottom-left corner, choose Control Panel. Select Programs and Features, Click on VMware Tools. Select Repair.
 

Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2016:

Start > Control Panel > Programs and Features. Click on VMware Tools. Select Repair.
 

For more information about the Repair function, please contact Microsoft Support.