"The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable" error when upgrading/installing VMware Tools
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"The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable" error when upgrading/installing VMware Tools

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Article ID: 372014

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Updated On:

Products

VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:
Upgrading VMware Tools fails with this error:

  • The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable. Click Ok to try again, or enter an alternative path to a folder containing the installation package 'VMwareTools64.msi' in the box below.


 

Environment

VMware vSphere 7.x
VMware vSphere 8.x

Cause

This issue occurs because certain registry entries are missing from the previous VMware Tools installation. Therefore, when attempting to upgrade VMware Tools, the installer is unable to locate the files which are already removed.

Resolution

Note: Before proceeding with the steps, VMware recommends to create a restore point using System Restore tool which is in-built in Windows operating systems. The restore point contains information about the registry, you can use the restore point to undo changes to your system.
 
For more information, see Microsoft articles:

backup your system
Create a system restore point

Note: The preceding link was correct of July 11, 2024. If you find the link in broken provide a feedback and a VMware employee will update the link.

To resolve this issue, restore point or backup of registry:

  1. Click Start > Run, type regedit, and click OK. The Registry Editor opens.
     
  2. Navigate to this directory

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\VMware.Inc

  3. Within this folder, search ( Edit > Find ) for VMwareTools64.msi, and you will not find it.

  4. Use the current version of VMware Tools running in the VM's installer and extract the .msi file from the exectuable into the folder listed using the below command in a command prompt.

    Note: If the installer for the current version of VMware Tools running in the VM is not available in the VM, you can download it from the Broadcom Support Portal.

    VMware-tools-version#-####.exe /a

    For example: VMware-tools-10.1.15-6677369-x86_64.exe /a

  5. Run the installation of the upgraded version of VMware Tools again, and when the error is presented again, select the .msi file you extracted.

Additional Information

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