mandiant / mandiant/VM-Packages

Win11 install very long pause during install of `visualstudio2017-workload-vctools`

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:bug: bug :grey_question: discussion :window: Windows11
Dominant language
PowerShell
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Forks
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Avg merge
9h 30m
Merged PRs (30d)
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Description

### What's the problem?

When trying to install [binaryninja.vm](https://github.com/mandiant/VM-Packages/blob/main/packages/binaryninja.vm/binaryninja.vm.nuspec), it installs [vcbuildtools.vm](https://github.com/mandiant/VM-Packages/blob/main/packages/vcbuildtools.vm/vcbuildtools.vm.nuspec), which in turn installs `visualstudio2017-workload-vctools`, which seems to install for an extended period of time. Another issue of a 'hanging' during install (https://github.com/mandiant/flare-vm/issues/636) makes it seem like this could be `vcredist140` taking a long time to install? Not really sure.

Should we include some sort of indicator somewhere that this could take a long time?

# Issue
During the installation of `visualstudio2017-workload-vctools`, it leads to the following issue which seems to halt installation for a very extended period of time. My VM did end up restarting and continuing the installation after leaving it up for some time, so it could just be a very long install with no indicator?
```
Warning: [15c0:0004][2025-07-28T21:21:18] The operation was canceled.
Warning: [15c0:0013][2025-07-28T21:21:18] Didn't find any channel feed.
Warning: [15c0:0004][2025-07-28T21:21:18] Didn't find any channel feed.
[15c0:0015][2025-07-28T21:21:18] WebClient error 'RequestCanceled' with 'https://aka.ms/vs/channels' - ExecuteWithRetryAsync failed along with a cancellation request
Warning: [15c0:0015][2025-07-28T21:21:18] Failed to get the HttpWebResponse while invoking a HEAD request against https://aka.ms/vs/channels:System.OperationCanceledException: The operation was canceled.
at System.Threading.CancellationToken.ThrowOperationCanceledException()
at System.Threading.CancellationToken.ThrowIfCancellationRequested()
at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Setup.Download.WebRequestService.<>c__DisplayClass9_0.b__0(Object _) at System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1.InnerInvoke()
at System.Threading.Tasks.Task.Execute()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Setup.Download.DownloadManagerAuthenticationProxy.d__28.MoveNext()
[15c0:0015][2025-07-28T21:21:18] Download requested: https://aka.ms/vs/channels
Warning: [15c0:0015][2025-07-28T21:21:18] Failed to download channels file from https://aka.ms/vs/channels: A task was canceled.
[15c0:0017][2025-07-28T21:21:18] WebClient error 'RequestCanceled' with 'https://aka.ms/vs/installer/latest/feed' - ExecuteWithRetryAsync failed along with a cancellation request
Warning: [15c0:0017][2025-07-28T21:21:18] Failed to get the HttpWebResponse while invoking a HEAD request against https://aka.ms/vs/installer/latest/feed:System.OperationCanceledException: The operation was canceled.
at System.Threading.CancellationToken.ThrowOperationCanceledException()
at System.Threading.CancellationToken.ThrowIfCancellationRequested()
at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Setup.Download.WebRequestService.<>c__DisplayClass9_0.b__0(Object _) at System.Threading.Tasks.Task`1.InnerInvoke()
at System.Threading.Tasks.Task.Execute()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Setup.Download.DownloadManagerAuthenticationProxy.d__28.MoveNext()
[15c0:0017][2025-07-28T21:21:18] Download requested: https://aka.ms/vs/installer/latest/feed
Warning: [15c0:0017][2025-07-28T21:21:18] Failed to update the latest installer feed A task was canceled.
Warning: [15c0:0017][2025-07-28T21:21:18] Didn't find any channel feed.
[15c0:0003][2025-07-28T21:21:18] Status changed to NoUpdate
Warning: [15c0:0004][2025-07-28T21:21:18] Didn't find any channel feed.
Warning: [15c0:0013][2025-07-28T21:21:18] Didn't find any channel feed.
[15c0:0012][2025-07-28T21:21:18] Authenticode verification returned 0x00000000 for path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio\Installer\setup.exe.
```

Image

### Steps to Reproduce

Run `flare-vm` installer defaults (or just something that installs/uses `vcbuildtools.vm`, like `binaryninja.vm`)

### Environment

Windows 11 install

### Additional Information

_No response_

### Detected by test suite

No

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

Research direction

Start with packages/binaryninja.vm/binaryninja.vm.nuspec and packages/vcbuildtools.vm/vcbuildtools.vm.nuspec, then reproduce using the FLARE-VM installer defaults or binaryninja.vm. Check the visualstudio2017-workload-vctools installation behavior and the reported Visual Studio installer warnings. Done means determining whether the pause is expected and, if so, providing an appropriate installation indicator or explanation.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
powershell
Domain
tooling
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
35/100

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