Error: "The system must be rebooted before installation can continue" when installing a VMware application on a Windows operating system
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Article ID: 338397
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Updated On:
Products
VMwareVMware vCenter ServerVMware vSphere ESXi
Issue/Introduction
Installing a VMware Application on Windows operating system fails
You see the error:
The system must be rebooted before installation can continue
Cause
This issue occurs if a Windows application schedules uninstall tasks on restart, but fails to remove the tasks even after the restart.
Resolution
Remove the references to the task from the Registry using the steps below.
Note: This procedure modifies the Windows registry. Before making any registry modifications, ensure that you have a current and valid backup of the registry and the virtual machine. For more information on backing up and restoring the registry, see the Microsoft Knowledge Base article Windows registry information for advanced users.
Click Start > Run, type regedit, and click OK. The Registry Editor window opens.
Check these registry keys for entries that are pending removal. These entries would typically be related to applications that you would have uninstalled in the past.