VMware Tools upgrade prompts for interactive reboot on VM and does not upgrade

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

VMware Tools upgrade prompts for interactive reboot on VM and does not upgrade. Once the VM is rebooted, the VMware Tools version remains the same. 
When the VMware Tools upgrade is ran a second time after the the VM is rebooted, VMware Tools upgrades successfully

Environment

vCenter Server 7.x

vCenter Server 8.x

ESXi 7.x

ESXi 8.x

 

Cause

The Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable version on the VM is lower than what is required by the VMware Tools version being installed
For more information on versions see, Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Requirement for VMware Tools


When checking the C:\Windows\Temp\vminst.log from the guest we see the below at the first upgrade attempt of VMware Tools


** InstallVCRedist [vcredist_x64.exe][ /Q /norestart]
Util_FileExists: Found "C:\Windows\TEMP\{####-####-####-####-####}~setup\vcredist_x64.exe"
Util_Launch: Attempting to launch ""C:\Windows\TEMP\{####-####-####-####-####}~setup\vcredist_x64.exe"  /Q /norestart"
Util_Launch: Child exited with code 3010
Util_Launch: Process returned 3010
vc redist returned ERROR_SUCCESS_REBOOT_REQUIRED
wWinMain: Incrementing progress by 5.
Sending rpc command 'log Reboot required by VC Redist' to the host
Reboot required by VC Redist installation. Setting return code to ERROR_SUCCESS_REBOOT_REQUIRED
Reboot required by [VC Redist], prompting user


After the interactive reboot prompt on the vm has been triggered, the next upgrade attempt of VMware Tools will complete successfully as the minimum required version of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable is now installed on the guest.

Resolution

Per KB Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Requirement for VMware Tools, "It is recommended to always keep Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable updated with the latest version available from Microsoft." "This helps reduce the likelihood of system reboot during VMware Tools upgrade"