VMware Tools 13.0.1.0 fails to start on Windows 2019 server with exception code 0xc0000005 due to MSVCP140.dll

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

After upgrading VMware Tools to version 13.0.1.0, the VMware Tools service fails to start on Windows Server 2019 virtual machines (VMs).

Environment

ESXi 8.X

VMware Tools Version: 13.0.1 (VMware-tools-13.0.1-24843032-x64.exe)

Cause

The root cause of this issue is a missing or corrupted dependency on the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package. The vmtoolsd.exe process crashes with an access violation error (0xc0000005) because it cannot properly load or access the MSVCP140.dll library. This is a critical runtime component required by VMware Tools 13.0.1.

This dependency is confirmed by two official sources:

• Broadcom Knowledge Base Article (KB 313276): https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/313276/microsoft-visual-c++-redistributable-req.html

• VMware Tools 13.0.1 Release Notes: https://techdocs.broadcom.com/us/en/vmware-cis/vsphere/tools/13-0-0/release-notes/vmware-tools-1301-release-notes.html

Both articles specify that VMware Tools 13.0.1 requires the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable with version 14.40.33816 or later.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, you must install or repair the Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable (x64) package on all affected VMs. This will provide the necessary MSVCP140.dll and associated files, allowing the VMware Tools service to start successfully.

Steps:

1. Download the latest Microsoft Visual C++ 2015-2022 Redistributable for Visual Studio from the official Microsoft website. Ensure you select the x64 version.

2. Copy the vc_redist.x64.exe file to the affected VM.

3. Run the installer. If a version is already installed, select the Repair option. If it is not present, the installer will perform a clean installation.

4. Reboot the virtual machine.

5. After the reboot, verify that the VMware Tools service is running and that the IP address is correctly reported to vCenter. The backup issues should also be resolved.

Additional Information

• The MSVCP140.dll file is a core component of the Visual C++ runtime libraries.

• The constant "flickering" of the VMware Tools status is a result of the Service Control Manager repeatedly attempting to restart the service after it terminates unexpectedly.