VMware Tools upgrade failed on 32-bit Windows OS

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

• When tried to upgrade VMware Tools on virtual machine with Windows 32-bit OS, prompt the error messages:
  
  The required VMware Tools ISO image does not exist or is inaccessible. vix error code = 21001 The VMware Tools image is inaccessible Unable to install VMware Tools. An error occurred while trying to access image file "/usr/lib/vmware/isoimages/windows-x86.iso" needed to install VMware Tools: 2 (No such file or directory). Please refer the product documentation or KB article 2129825 for details about how to get VMware Tools package for this guest operating system.
  
  
• Cluster image of Lifecycle Manager which manages the ESXi hosts has been configured with Components of VMware Tools Async Release larger than 12.4.9.
• There is no windows-x86.iso in /usr/lib/vmware/isoimages/ of ESXi host. 

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0.x

Cause

VMware Tools 12.4.9 was the last regular release for 32-bit Windows versions. The later versions will only support the 64-bit Windows versions. 

Resolution

VMware Tools on 32-bit Windows versions:

• For VMware Tools versions earlier than 12.4.9: Manually upgrade by downloading the 12.4.9 installer from the VMware Tools Releases.
• For VMware Tools version 12.4.9: No upgrade is necessary.

Additional Information

VMware Tools 13.1.0.0 Release Notes - Product Support Notices