VMware tools installation halts with error "Setup failed to install the VMCI Virtual Machine Communication Interface driver automatically. This driver will have to installed manually." and rollbacks the installation

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• VMware tools installation halts with error "Setup failed to install the VMCI Virtual Machine Communication Interface driver automatically. This driver will have to installed manually." then rollbacks.
• No vminst, vmmsi or vminst logs located in C:\Windows\Temp\
• No vmci.sys driver located in C:\Windows\System32\drivers
• setupapi.dev located in c:\windows\inf\ gives the below error:
    sto: {Setup Import Driver Package: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VMware\Drivers\vmci\device\Win8\vmci.inf} 09:09:11.952
!    sto:      Unable to determine presence of driver package. Error = 0x000003F1
     inf:      Provider: Broadcom Inc.
     inf:      Class GUID: {4d36e97d-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}
     inf:      Driver Version: 09/07/2024,9.8.18.1
     inf:      Catalog File: vmci.cat
     pol:      {Driver package policy check} 09:09:12.124
     pol:      {Driver package policy check - exit(0x00000000)} 09:09:12.124
     sto:      {Stage Driver Package: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VMware\Drivers\vmci\device\Win8\vmci.inf} 09:09:12.124
!    sto:           Unable to determine presence of driver package 'vmci.inf'. Error = 0x000003F1
     inf:           {Query Configurability: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VMware\Drivers\vmci\device\Win8\vmci.inf} 09:09:12.124
     inf:                Driver package 'vmci.inf' is configurable.
     inf:           {Query Configurability: exit(0x00000000)} 09:09:12.140
     flq:           Copying 'C:\Program Files\Common Files\VMware\Drivers\vmci\device\Win8\vmci.cat' to 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{d9c31194-1088-6940-99e2-3953d1c54ddc}\vmci.cat'.
     flq:           Copying 'C:\Program Files\Common Files\VMware\Drivers\vmci\device\Win8\vmci.inf' to 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{d9c31194-1088-6940-99e2-3953d1c54ddc}\vmci.inf'.
     flq:           Copying 'C:\Program Files\Common Files\VMware\Drivers\vmci\device\Win8\vmci.sys' to 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{d9c31194-1088-6940-99e2-3953d1c54ddc}\vmci.sys'.
     sto:           {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT VALIDATE} 09:09:12.155
     sig:                {_VERIFY_FILE_SIGNATURE} 09:09:12.234
     sig:                     Key      = vmci.inf
     sig:                     FilePath = C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{d9c31194-1088-6940-99e2-3953d1c54ddc}\vmci.inf
     sig:                     Catalog  = C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{d9c31194-1088-6940-99e2-3953d1c54ddc}\vmci.cat
     sig:                     Success: File is signed in catalog.
     sig:                {_VERIFY_FILE_SIGNATURE exit(0x00000000)} 09:09:12.249
sto:           {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT VALIDATE: exit(0x00000000)} 09:09:12.265
     sig:           Signer Score  = 0x0D000005 (WHQL)
     sig:           Signer Name   = Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher
     sig:           Submission ID = 30099670_14083782673015507_1152921505698240676
     sto:           {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT BEGIN} 09:09:12.280
     sto:           {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT BEGIN: exit(0x00000000)} 09:09:12.280
     cpy:           {Copy Directory: C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{d9c31194-1088-6940-99e2-3953d1c54ddc}} 09:09:12.280
     cpy:                Target Path = C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\vmci.inf_amd64_72a1c95f9120db75
     cpy:           {Copy Directory: exit(0x00000000)} 09:09:12.280
!    sto:           Unable to determine if driver package 'vmci.inf' is already registered. Error = 0x000003F1
     idb:           {Register Driver Package: C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\vmci.inf_amd64_72a1c95f9120db75\vmci.inf} 09:09:12.296
     idb:                Created driver package object 'vmci.inf_amd64_72a1c95f9120db75' in SYSTEM database node.
!!!  idb:                Failed to acquire driver INF name for 'vmci.inf'. Error = 0x000003F1
!!!  idb:                Failed to register driver package 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\vmci.inf_amd64_72a1c95f9120db75\vmci.inf'. Error = 0x000003F1
     idb:           {Register Driver Package: exit(0x000003f1)} 09:09:12.327
     sto:           {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT END} 09:09:12.327
     sto:           {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT END: exit(0x00000000)} 09:09:12.327
     sto:           Rolled back driver package import.
!!!  sto:           Failed to import driver package into Driver Store. Error = 0x000003F1  
     sto:      {Stage Driver Package: exit(0x000003f1)} 09:09:12.343
     sto: {Setup Import Driver Package - exit (0x000003f1)} 09:09:12.343
!!!  inf: Failed to import driver package into driver store
!!!  inf: Error 1009: The configuration registry database is corrupt. 
<<<  Section end 2025/11/26 09:09:13.439
<<<  [Exit status: FAILURE(0x000003f1)]

Environment

VMware vCenter Server 8.x

VMware ESXi 8.x

Cause

Missing or corrupt configuration registry database in the guestOS

Resolution

Engage the 3rd party OS vendor to investigate the Guest configuration.