Installing vSphere Client fails with the error “VMInstallHcmon - Failed to install hcmon driver”

When installing the latest vSphere Client 6.0 on my Windows 10 computer, I got the following error “VMInstallHcmon – Failed to install hcmon driver”

Troubleshooting

• Try KB2006486. But I don’t see Non-Plug and Play Drivers and VMware hcmon on my Windows 10 computer
• Try renaming the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\hcmon.sys file. Still get the same error

Solution

• On my laptop, vSphere Client 5.5 and 6.0 (older build), and their respective Update Manager plug-in are installed
• Remove these older clients and plug-ins
• vSphere Client 6.0 installation completes successfully

vSphere Client 6.0 could not connect to vCenter server error “The client did not receive a complete response from the server”

Due to security concerns in the TLS v1.0, we start disabling it on the system. After disabling TLS v1.0 on a Windows machine, I got the following error when connecting to a vCenter Server 6.0 using the vSphere Client (legacy C# client).

Troubleshooting

• I am still able to login vCenter via the vSphere Web Client on the web browser
• Re-enabling TLS v1.0 on the machine, I am able to login vCenter via the vSphere Client again
• The vCenter server is a VCSA 6.0 Update 3e. TLS v1.1/v1.2 are enabled by default (KB2145796).

Solution

1. Download and install the latest vSphere Client 6.0. As of this writing, vSphere Client 6.0.0 build 6855219.
2. Navigate to the configuration file C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\Infrastructure\Virtual Infrastructure Client\Launcher\VpxClient.exe.config
3. Edit the VpxClient.exe.config file by setting the parameters
   <add key = “EnableTLS12” value = “false” />
   as
   <add key = “EnableTLS12” value = “true” />

Additional notes

• An older build of the vSphere Client 6.0 may not have the “EnableTLS12” entry in the configuration file. Install the latest build from the link in step #1.
• Some Microsoft updates or .NET 4.6.2 may need to install on the machine. See KB2149000.