Error: "The Microsoft Runtime DLL installer failed to complete installation" when attmpting upgrade VMware Tools

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• During VMware Tools upgrade, the upgrade process start to execute and then fails with the below error:
  
  "Microsoft DLLs are missing" or "Setup cannot continue. The Microsoft Runtime DLL installer failed to complete installation"

• Manually repair / remove / install of the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime DLLs fails with the below error: 

• In the windows machine from %Temp% directory, the Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime DLLs package logs has the following events: 

Caching bundle from: 'C:\Windows\Temp\{FB43E448-E3FD-4E0A-AA2D-C8A3FF8B4BE2}\.be\VC_redist.x86.exe' to: 'C:\ProgramData\Package Cache\{0b5169e3-39da-4313-808e-1f9c0407f3bf}\VC_redist.x86.exe'
Error 0x80070002: Failed to install MSI package.
Error 0x80070002: Failed to configure per-machine MSI package.

Note: This "FB43E448-E3FD-4E0A-AA2D-C8A3FF8B4BE2" is an id for the package folder where the logs are present.

Environment

• VMware Tools for Windows
• VMware vCenter Server 8.x
• VMware vCenter Server 7.x
• VMware vSphere ESXi 8.x
• VMware vSphere ESXi 7.x

Cause

• The VMware Tools upgrade / installation requires certain Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime DLLs to be present on the guest operating system.
• The required Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable packages are not installed on the VM.
• Existing Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable packages / runtime libraries are damaged or corrupted by system during cleanup/patching.
• The Guest OS is missing critical Windows updates.
• Windows image has unknown file corruption.
• Antivirus or endpoint protection blocked the runtime installer from completing.

Resolution

1. On the Windows VM, search for Command Prompt in the taskbar, right-click it, select Run as administrator, and click Yes when prompted..
2. Type or paste the command lines one by one and click enter. (Note: Each command may take a few minutes to start and complete. Do not copy-paste the commands all at once.)
   • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
   • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
   • DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
   • sfc /scannow
3. Reboot the windows VM.

Following the reboot, if the VMware Tools installation / update still fails with the same error. Engage the respective guest OS vendor or resort to restoring the servers from backup or rebuild.