VMtools Upgrade fails with DLL file is missing, Installer error: vc_runtimeminimum_x86 ms

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

Will get an error when while installing VMware Tools, it stops at finding Microsoft Visual C++ 2019

Environment

VMware Tools for Windows

Cause

When VMware tools begins its installation process on Windows operating systems, it attempts to upgrade the version of Microsoft Visual C++ to one compliant with the new tools version. If there is anything wrong with the old version of C++ it's attempting to upgrade from, the installation will fail.

Resolution

Note: The issue is with Microsoft Windows Installer, not the VMTools.

 1. Determine the version of the problem C++ program and locate the download for it (The old version will be listed at the end of the error message)

  2.  Execute the installer and it will repair the broken legacy C++ install

  3.  Re-run the VMware tools installation.