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Updating VMware Tools fails with the error: Update Tools failed. Edit the virtual machine's vmx file (2007298)

Symptoms

  • You are unable to update VMware Tools
  • Updating VMware Tools fails
  • You see the error:

    Update Tools failed. Edit the virtual machine's vmx file, add the line below and try again. Please read KB article 1714 on tips for editing a vmx file.

    isolation.tools.guestInitiatedUpgrade.disable = "FALSE"

Cause

For security purposes, updating VMware Tools from within the guest is disabled by default.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, enable VMware Tools updates from within the guest by updating the virtual machine configuration file.

To update the virtual machine configuration file:

In Fusion, Player, or Workstation

  1. Shut down the virtual machine, if it is running.
  2. Open the virtual machine configuration file (.vmx) using a text editor. For more information, see:

  3. Add this line to the end of the file:

    isolation.tools.guestInitiatedUpgrade.disable = "FALSE"

  4. Save and close the .vmx file.
  5. Start the virtual machine again.

In ESX/ESXi using the vCenter Server GUI

  1. Open the datastore browser and navigate to the virtual machine directory.

  2. Using the GUI option, download the .vmx to your local desktop.

  3. Create a backup of the .vmx on your local workstation.

  4. Open the .vmx file using notepad and make the desired changes.

  5. When saved, upload the file via the datastore browser GUI.

  6. Verify functionality before deleting the .vmx backup on your local workstation.

In ESX/ESXi using the command line

  1. Open an SSH session to a host, and navigate to the virtual machine directory.

  2. Run this command to create a backup of the .vmx file:

    cp .vmx .vmx.backup

  3. When the copy is complete, open the .vmx file with a text editor
and make the desired changes. For more information, see Tips for editing a .vmx file (1714).
  4. Verify the virtual machine is functional before deleting the backup file. To delete the backup file, run:

    – rm .vmx.backup

Tags

cannot-install-tools  install-vmware-tools-fails  vmware-tools-install-fails  vmware-tools-install-upgrade-fails  vmware-tools-upgrade-fails  upgrading-vmware-tools-fails  missing-setting

See Also

Update History

2/27/2012 - Added steps to edit .vmx in ESXi 04/01/2013 - Added information about cause

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