VMWare Horizon client won't install

[MrJeff85]

I updated Windows 10 to the may update (1909 to 2004)

I am trying to install VMWare Horizon client and it keeps on crashing and sending me a message; Installation failed.

Here are the logs.

[AlexAskin]

Is seems that the error occurs while the setup is trying to open C:\WINDOWS\system32\Drivers\etc\hosts:

MSI (s) (88:E0) [13:43:17:470]: Invoking remote custom action. DLL: C:\WINDOWS\Installer\MSID11D.tmp, Entrypoint: VMAddViewLocalHostEntryToHostsFile

vdmInstUtil: 06/10/20 13:43:17 Entering custom action VMAddViewLocalHostEntryToHostsFile

vdmInstUtil: 06/10/20 13:43:17 --- VMAddViewLocalHostEntryToHostsFile() : Adding view-localhost entry to the 'etc\hosts' file.

vdmInstUtil: 06/10/20 13:43:17 File exists: "C:\WINDOWS\system32\Drivers\etc\hosts"

vdmInstUtil: 06/10/20 13:43:17 Searching for '127.0.0.1 view-localhost # view localhost server' in "C:\WINDOWS\system32\Drivers\etc\hosts"

vdmInstUtil: 06/10/20 13:43:17 File exists: "C:\WINDOWS\system32\Drivers\etc\hosts"

vdmInstUtil: 06/10/20 13:43:17 Pattern not found!

vdmInstUtil: 06/10/20 13:43:17 Appending text to file: "C:\WINDOWS\system32\Drivers\etc\hosts"

vdmInstUtil: 06/10/20 13:43:17 ERROR: Failed to open file: "C:\WINDOWS\system32\Drivers\etc\hosts": 13

vdmInstUtil: 06/10/20 13:43:17 ERROR: Failed writing to file "C:\WINDOWS\system32\Drivers\etc\hosts".

vdmInstUtil: 06/10/20 13:43:17 Exiting custom action VMAddViewLocalHostEntryToHostsFile

CustomAction VM_AddViewLocalHostEntryToHostsFile returned actual error code 1603 (note this may not be 100% accurate if translation happened inside sandbox)

MSI (s) (88:04) [13:43:17:486]: Note: 1: 2265 2: 3: -2147287035

MSI (s) (88:04) [13:43:17:486]: User policy value 'DisableRollback' is 0

MSI (s) (88:04) [13:43:17:486]: Machine policy value 'DisableRollback' is 0

Fin de l  action 13:43:17 : InstallFinalize. Valeur renvoyée : 3.

Horizon Client 5.4 does not yet support Windows 10 2004:

Windows 10 32-bit or 64-bit Version

1909 SAC Version

1903 SAC Version

1809 SAC Enterprise

Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations, Enterprise, Internet of Things (IoT) Enterprise, and Education

Source: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Horizon-Client-for-Windows/5.4/horizon-client-windows-installation...

[Shreyskar · Accepted solution]

Hi MrJeff85

Though it is not supported, but based on error stack it seems installation is failing while writing to hosts file.

Change the permissions for the hosts file (C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts) on the system from read only to read/write and check if it helps.

[MrJeff85]

Thank you! Now I'm able to use the proper client and it works fine.

[stranger401]

I finally fixed the same problem on my machine.

I found that I did not have a  hosts file in C:/windows/system32/drivers/etc/

I created a hosts file in this location using a generic file I found on the internet.

Once the host file was created in the location above, the installation went smoothly and the application worked perfectly

Hope this helps.

J.