Tag Archives: vmware tools

Cancelling stuck VMware Tools install on vSphere 5.5

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(Not so) happy Monday morning!

First request of the day – one of the VM’s was unresponsive and had to be rebooted (RDP was hanging and no incoming connections were allowed). I’m thinking not a big deal so VM was rebooted but I have noticed that VMware Tools were not up to date so thought why not update them at the same time? This is where it all started to go wrong… At this point VM was not responding (which I knew about) AND VMware Tools install was totally stuck on some random percentage in Recent Tasks. Great start.

Few things I have tried before finding the proper solution:

  • Trying to cancel the install by right clicking on Initiated VMware Tools Install or Upgrade in Recent Tasks didn’t yield any results. Option was greyed out.
  • Powering off the VM was unsuccessful as well. Again, options to Power Off, Reset etc. were greyed out.
  • Ejecting the .iso file that’s responsible for VMware Tools install didn’t help since the .iso was not connected.
  • Continue reading

    VMware tools install fails with “An error occurred installing the package. Windows Installer returned ‘1601’”

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    VMware_tools_install_fails_with_An_error_occurred_installing_the_package_Windows_Installer_returned_1601_1

    I have been getting An error occurred installing the package. Windows Installer returned ‘1601’ while installing/updating VMware tools on 1 VM (out of like 70..) for some strange reason. Fast forward some time and its all apparent now:

    VMware_tools_install_fails_with_An_error_occurred_installing_the_package_Windows_Installer_returned_1601_2

    Someone changed the startup type for Windows Installer service to Disabled

    Its one of those annoying things you could really could do without on a Friday evening!!

    Anyways, that’s that sorted – time to pack up and leave for the day.