USB Arbitration Service Hangs at "Starting"

[JustinPerson]

My VMware application was corrupted (multiple times) and I had to force remove the application and all entrants of it. I used the KB article to remove all of the bits and pieces.

Now, I cannot connect to any USB devices with my VMs (any of them) and I get no errors that there is an issue.

Looking at my services.msc section, it shows USB Arbitration Service for VMware is "starting" but never actually starts. I found the log for the service and all it says is the below. I can't seem to get the service to start even after installing/reinstalling/removing/deleting the application or executables associated with the service. I could use some help in figuring out why I can't connect USBs or start this service.

2016-10-17T12:20:00.873-04:00| usbArb| I125: Log for VMware USB Arbitration Service pid=8112 version=12.5.0 build=build-4352448 option=Release

2016-10-17T12:20:00.873-04:00| usbArb| I125: The process is 64-bit.

2016-10-17T12:20:00.873-04:00| usbArb| I125: Host codepage=windows-1252 encoding=windows-1252

2016-10-17T12:20:00.873-04:00| usbArb| I125: Host is Windows 7 Enterprise, 64-bit Service Pack 1 (Build 7601)

2016-10-17T12:20:00.864-04:00| usbArb| I125: VTHREAD initialize main thread 3 "usbArb" host id 8116

2016-10-17T12:20:00.866-04:00| usbArb| I125: FILE: FileCreateDirectoryRetry: Non-retriable error encountered (C:\ProgramData\VMware): Cannot create a file when that file already exists (183)

2016-10-17T12:20:00.866-04:00| usbArb| I125: FILE: FileCreateDirectoryRetry: Non-retriable error encountered (C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware USB Arbitration Service): Cannot create a file when that file already exists (183)

2016-10-17T12:20:00.866-04:00| usbArb| I125: DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware USB Arbitration Service\config.ini": The system cannot find the file specified.

2016-10-17T12:20:00.866-04:00| usbArb| I125: PREF Optional preferences file not found at C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware USB Arbitration Service\config.ini. Using default values.

2016-10-17T12:20:00.866-04:00| usbArb| I125: FILE: FileCreateDirectoryRetry: Non-retriable error encountered (C:\ProgramData\VMware): Cannot create a file when that file already exists (183)

2016-10-17T12:20:00.866-04:00| usbArb| I125: FILE: FileCreateDirectoryRetry: Non-retriable error encountered (C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware USB Arbitration Service): Cannot create a file when that file already exists (183)

2016-10-17T12:20:00.866-04:00| usbArb| I125: DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware USB Arbitration Service\settings.ini": The system cannot find the file specified.

2016-10-17T12:20:00.866-04:00| usbArb| I125: PREF Optional preferences file not found at C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware USB Arbitration Service\settings.ini. Using default values.

2016-10-17T12:20:00.867-04:00| usbArb| I125: FILE: FileCreateDirectoryRetry: Non-retriable error encountered (C:\ProgramData\VMware): Cannot create a file when that file already exists (183)

2016-10-17T12:20:00.867-04:00| usbArb| I125: FILE: FileCreateDirectoryRetry: Non-retriable error encountered (C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware USB Arbitration Service): Cannot create a file when that file already exists (183)

2016-10-17T12:20:00.867-04:00| usbArb| I125: DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware USB Arbitration Service\config.ini": The system cannot find the file specified.

2016-10-17T12:20:00.867-04:00| usbArb| I125: PREF Optional preferences file not found at C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware USB Arbitration Service\config.ini. Using default values.

2016-10-17T12:20:00.869-04:00| usbArb| I125: DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "C:\Windows\system32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Roaming\VMware\config.ini": The system cannot find the file specified.

2016-10-17T12:20:00.869-04:00| usbArb| I125: PREF Optional preferences file not found at C:\Windows\system32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Roaming\VMware\config.ini. Using default values.

2016-10-17T12:20:00.869-04:00| usbArb| I125: PREF Disabling user preferences because disableUserPreferences is set.

2016-10-17T12:20:00.869-04:00| usbArb| I125: PREF Failed to load user preferences.

2016-10-17T12:20:00.869-04:00| usbArb| I125: POLL Using the WSAPoll API Implementation for PollDefault

2016-10-17T12:20:00.872-04:00| usbArb| I125: FILE: FileCreateDirectoryRetry: Non-retriable error encountered (C:\Windows): Cannot create a file when that file already exists (183)

2016-10-17T12:20:00.872-04:00| usbArb| I125: FILE: FileCreateDirectoryRetry: Non-retriable error encountered (C:\Windows\TEMP): Cannot create a file when that file already exists (183)

2016-10-17T12:20:00.872-04:00| usbArb| I125: FILE: FileCreateDirectoryRetry: Non-retriable error encountered (C:\Windows\TEMP\vmware-SYSTEM): Cannot create a file when that file already exists (183)

2016-10-17T12:20:00.873-04:00| usbArb| I125: Hostinfo_OpenProcessBits: OpenProcess access bits are 1000.

2016-10-17T12:20:00.883-04:00| usbArb| I125: DICT --- GLOBAL SETTINGS C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware USB Arbitration Service\settings.ini

2016-10-17T12:20:00.883-04:00| usbArb| I125: DICT --- NON PERSISTENT

2016-10-17T12:20:00.883-04:00| usbArb| I125: DICT --- USER PREFERENCES

2016-10-17T12:20:00.883-04:00| usbArb| I125: DICT --- USER DEFAULTS C:\Windows\system32\config\systemprofile\AppData\Roaming\VMware\config.ini

2016-10-17T12:20:00.883-04:00| usbArb| I125: DICT --- HOST DEFAULTS C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware USB Arbitration Service\config.ini

2016-10-17T12:20:00.883-04:00| usbArb| I125: DICT --- SITE DEFAULTS C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware USB Arbitration Service\config.ini

2016-10-17T12:20:00.883-04:00| usbArb| I125: VMware USB Arbitration Service Version 15.2.0

2016-10-17T12:20:00.884-04:00| vthread-4| I125: VTHREAD initialize thread 4 "vthread-4" host id 8144

2016-10-17T12:20:00.884-04:00| vthread-4| I125: USBArb: Starting VMUSBArbService args:'VMUSBArbService'

2016-10-17T12:20:00.888-04:00| vthread-4| I125: USBGW: Host controller #0 hc= "\\?\HCD0"

2016-10-17T12:20:00.888-04:00| vthread-4| I125: USBGW: Host controller #0 rootHubName="USB#ROOT_HUB20#4&b31d047&0#{f18a0e88-c30c-11d0-8815-00a0c906bed8}"

2016-10-17T12:20:00.888-04:00| vthread-4| I125: USBGW: Host controller #0 rootHubDevInst="USB\ROOT_HUB20\4&b31d047&0"

2016-10-17T12:20:00.888-04:00| vthread-4| I125: USBGW: Host controller #1 hc= "\\?\HCD1"

2016-10-17T12:20:00.888-04:00| vthread-4| I125: USBGW: Host controller #1 rootHubName="USB#ROOT_HUB20#4&981f5fc&0#{f18a0e88-c30c-11d0-8815-00a0c906bed8}"

2016-10-17T12:20:00.888-04:00| vthread-4| I125: USBGW: Host controller #1 rootHubDevInst="USB\ROOT_HUB20\4&981f5fc&0"

2016-10-17T12:20:00.888-04:00| vthread-4| I125: USBGW: Host controller #9 hc= "\\?\HCD9"

2016-10-17T12:20:00.888-04:00| vthread-4| I125: USBGW: Host controller #9 rootHubName="IUSB3#ROOT_HUB30#4&150db8e8&0#{f18a0e88-c30c-11d0-8815-00a0c906bed8}"

2016-10-17T12:20:00.888-04:00| vthread-4| I125: USBGW: Host controller #9 rootHubDevInst="IUSB3\ROOT_HUB30\4&150db8e8&0"

2016-10-17T12:20:00.888-04:00| vthread-4| I125: USBArbW: Connected to HCMON version 3.16

2016-10-17T12:20:00.910-04:00| vthread-5| I125: VTHREAD initialize thread 5 "vthread-5" host id 8156

2016-10-17T12:20:00.910-04:00| vthread-5| W115: USBArbW: Error setting autoconnect flag: A device attached to the system is not functioning (31)

[Michael_114]

Any chance we can get some type of movement on this. I'm stuck with the exact same issue

Ok so  I managed to so get this working on my own.

I removed the workstation, and then ran the cleanup tool, re-installed and it worked.

@Cleaning up after an incomplete uninstallation on a Windows host (1308) | VMware KB

[stralex]

Hi, thank to your post I found that after upgrade to 12.5.2 the VMware USB Arbitration Service is stuck in Starting state.

I did the /clean and that fixed the issue. Otherwise I could be left with out USB pass through for a long time.

Thank you!