[BUG] Cowork - HVSock keepalive fails after successful VM boot on Windows 10 (Request timed out)

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

Cowork has never worked on this machine. The VM boots successfully and the Claude API is confirmed reachable, but the HVSock keepalive channel fails within ~25 seconds of startup every attempt, resulting in "Request timed out." Regular Chat mode works perfectly.
From the logs, the failure sequence is always:

VM starts and reaches "Startup complete"
Network status: CONNECTED, API reachability: REACHABLE
Keepalive pings immediately begin timing out continuously
Spawn fails: Request timed out

What Should Happen?

The Cowork workspace should start successfully, maintain a stable HVSock connection, and allow task execution — the same way regular Chat mode works without issue.

Error Messages/Logs

2026-03-12 14:35:45 [info] [VM] Loading vmClient (TypeScript) module...
2026-03-12 14:35:45 [info] [VM] Module loaded successfully
2026-03-12 14:36:35 [info] [KernelBugMonitor] State reset
2026-03-12 14:36:35 [info] [VM:start] Beginning startup, bundlePath=C:\Users\Jay Kirk\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle
2026-03-12 14:36:35 [info] [VM:start] Bundle version: fb30784dadb34104626c8cf6d8f90dd47cd393cc
2026-03-12 14:36:35 [info] [VM:start] VM instance ID: a53ff47b-acc6-40bf-82a0-10d15ddccfcd
2026-03-12 14:36:35 [info] [VM:steps] download_and_sdk_prepare started
2026-03-12 14:36:35 [info] [VM:steps] download_and_sdk_prepare completed (9ms)
2026-03-12 14:36:35 [info] [VM:steps] load_swift_api started
2026-03-12 14:36:35 [info] [VM:steps] load_swift_api completed (1ms)
2026-03-12 14:36:35 [info] [Callbacks] Initializing VM event callbacks...
2026-03-12 14:36:35 [info] [Callbacks] VM event callbacks initialized
2026-03-12 14:36:35 [info] [VM:start] Copying smol-bin.x64.vhdx to bundle: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Claude_1.1.6041.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc\app\resources\smol-bin.x64.vhdx -> C:\Users\Jay Kirk\AppData\Roaming\Claude\vm_bundles\claudevm.bundle\smol-bin.vhdx
2026-03-12 14:36:36 [info] [VM:start] smol-bin.x64.vhdx copied successfully
2026-03-12 14:36:36 [info] [VM:start] Configuring Windows VM service...
2026-03-12 14:36:39 [info] [VM:start] Windows VM service configured
2026-03-12 14:36:54 [info] [VM:start] Still waiting for guest connection... 11640ms elapsed, 4 polls
2026-03-12 14:37:06 [info] [VM:start] Still waiting for guest connection... 23265ms elapsed, 7 polls
2026-03-12 14:37:18 [info] [VM] Network status: CONNECTED
2026-03-12 14:37:18 [info] [VM] API reachability: REACHABLE
2026-03-12 14:37:18 [info] [VM:steps] sdk_install started
2026-03-12 14:37:18 [info] [postConnect] Installing SDK: subpath=AppData/Local/Packages/Claude_pzs8sxrjxfjjc/LocalCache/Roaming/Claude/claude-code-vm, version=2.1.72
2026-03-12 14:37:28 [info] [Keepalive] Starting (interval=2000ms)
2026-03-12 14:37:28 [info] [VM:steps] sdk_install completed (9473ms)
2026-03-12 14:37:28 [info] [VM:start] Startup complete, total time: 52484ms
2026-03-12 14:37:40 [info] [startVM] VM already connected
2026-03-12 14:37:40 [info] [postConnect] Installing SDK: subpath=AppData/Local/Packages/Claude_pzs8sxrjxfjjc/LocalCache/Roaming/Claude/claude-code-vm, version=2.1.72
2026-03-12 14:37:48 [info] [startVM] VM already connected
2026-03-12 14:37:48 [info] [postConnect] Installing SDK: subpath=AppData/Local/Packages/Claude_pzs8sxrjxfjjc/LocalCache/Roaming/Claude/claude-code-vm, version=2.1.72
2026-03-12 14:37:53 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:37:53 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:37:54 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:37:55 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:37:56 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:37:58 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:37:59 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:00 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:02 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:06 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:07 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:08 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:09 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:10 [warn] [startVM] Post-connect setup failed on already-connected fast path: Error: Request timed out
    at Socket.<anonymous> (C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Claude_1.1.6041.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc\app\resources\app.asar\.vite\build\index.js:171:20468)
    at Object.onceWrapper (node:events:622:28)
    at Socket.emit (node:events:508:28)
    at Socket._onTimeout (node:net:604:8)
    at listOnTimeout (node:internal/timers:605:17)
    at process.processTimers (node:internal/timers:541:7) {
  [stack]: [Getter/Setter],
  [message]: 'Request timed out'
}
2026-03-12 14:38:11 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:13 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:14 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:16 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:18 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:18 [warn] [startVM] Post-connect setup failed on already-connected fast path: Error: Request timed out
    at Socket.<anonymous> (C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Claude_1.1.6041.0_x64__pzs8sxrjxfjjc\app\resources\app.asar\.vite\build\index.js:171:20468)
    at Object.onceWrapper (node:events:622:28)
    at Socket.emit (node:events:508:28)
    at Socket._onTimeout (node:net:604:8)
    at listOnTimeout (node:internal/timers:605:17)
    at process.processTimers (node:internal/timers:541:7) {
  [stack]: [Getter/Setter],
  [message]: 'Request timed out'
}
2026-03-12 14:38:19 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:22 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:23 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:25 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:26 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:28 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:29 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:31 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:34 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:36 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:38 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:39 [info] [Spawn:config] Creating spawn function for process=inspiring-admiring-gauss, isResume=false, mounts=8 (LF.claude, .claude, .skills, .remote-plugins, .remote-plugins/plugin_012YxGkT9oqKzw2gqsp52Dcb/.mcpb-cache, .local-plugins, .local-plugins/marketplaces/local-desktop-app-uploads/cowork-os/.mcpb-cache, uploads), allowedDomains=1
2026-03-12 14:38:39 [info] [Spawn:create] id=17280e22-bdf2-4eda-9d00-f5555f75fbac name=inspiring-admiring-gauss cmd=/usr/local/bin/claude args=--output-format stream-json --verbose --input-format stream-json --max-thinking-tokens 31999 --effort medium --model claude-sonnet-4-6 --permission-prompt-tool stdio --allowedTools Task,Bash,Glob,Grep,Read,Edit,Write,NotebookEdit,WebFetch,TodoWrite,WebSearch,Skill,REPL,JavaScript,mcp__mcp-registry__search_mcp_registry,mcp__mcp-registry__suggest_connectors,mcp__plugins__search_plugins,mcp__plugins__suggest_plugin_install,mcp__scheduled-tasks__list_scheduled_tasks,mcp__Claude_in_Chrome,mcp__computer-use,mcp__cowork__present_files --tools Task,Bash,Glob,Grep,Read,Edit,Write,NotebookEdit,WebFetch,TodoWrite,WebSearch,Skill,REPL,JavaScript,AskUserQuestion --mcp-config {"mcpServers":{"6d820d80-992a-4f51-a503-15dec373dfc9":{"type":"sdk","name":"6d820d80-992a-4f51-a503-15dec373dfc9"},"5a893ba1-73fb-4bc1-97aa-fb6288569593":{"type":"sdk","name":"5a893ba1-73fb-4bc1-97aa-fb6288569593"},"4ef7906c-a040-4331-8793-89a0d3182e8d":{"type":"sdk","name":"4ef7906c-a040-4331-8793-89a0d3182e8d"},"156ebda9-7886-4bf0-9c22-2a71c36505bf":{"type":"sdk","name":"156ebda9-7886-4bf0-9c22-2a71c36505bf"},"c422f912-e3a6-49ce-b9fd-8f5d9b211776":{"type":"sdk","name":"c422f912-e3a6-49ce-b9fd-8f5d9b211776"},"c1fc4002-5f49-5f9d-a4e5-93c4ef5d6a75":{"type":"sdk","name":"c1fc4002-5f49-5f9d-a4e5-93c4ef5d6a75"},"Claude in Chrome":{"type":"sdk","name":"Claude in Chrome"},"mcp-registry":{"type":"sdk","name":"mcp-registry"},"plugins":{"type":"sdk","name":"plugins"},"Windows-MCP":{"type":"sdk","name":"Windows-MCP"},"sqlserver-learn-dev":{"type":"sdk","name":"sqlserver-learn-dev"},"sqlserver-learn":{"type":"sdk","name":"sqlserver-learn"},"scheduled-tasks":{"type":"sdk","name":"scheduled-tasks"},"cowork":{"type":"sdk","name":"cowork"}}} --setting-sources user --permission-mode default --include-partial-messages --add-dir /sessions/inspiring-admiring-gauss/mnt/LF.claude --plugin-dir /sessions/inspiring-admiring-gauss/mnt/.skills --plugin-dir /sessions/inspiring-admiring-gauss/mnt/.remote-plugins/plugin_012YxGkT9oqKzw2gqsp52Dcb --plugin-dir /sessions/inspiring-admiring-gauss/mnt/.local-plugins/marketplaces/local-desktop-app-uploads/cowork-os cwd=/sessions/inspiring-admiring-gauss
2026-03-12 14:38:39 [info] [Process:17280e22-bdf2-4eda-9d00-f5555f75fbac] Created, name=inspiring-admiring-gauss, total active=1
2026-03-12 14:38:39 [info] [Process:17280e22-bdf2-4eda-9d00-f5555f75fbac] Buffering stdin (spawn not yet confirmed): 52082 bytes
2026-03-12 14:38:39 [info] [Process:17280e22-bdf2-4eda-9d00-f5555f75fbac] Buffering stdin (spawn not yet confirmed): 195 bytes
2026-03-12 14:38:40 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:42 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:44 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:48 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:51 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:56 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:57 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:38:58 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:39:00 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:39:01 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:39:02 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:39:04 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:39:06 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:39:08 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:39:09 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:39:09 [error] [Spawn:vm] id=17280e22-bdf2-4eda-9d00-f5555f75fbac Spawn failed: Request timed out
2026-03-12 14:39:09 [error] [Process:17280e22-bdf2-4eda-9d00-f5555f75fbac] Error: Request timed out
2026-03-12 14:39:09 [info] [CoworkVMProcess:17280e22-bdf2-4eda-9d00-f5555f75fbac] kill called with signal: SIGTERM
2026-03-12 14:39:09 [info] [CoworkVMProcess:17280e22-bdf2-4eda-9d00-f5555f75fbac] kill called with signal: SIGTERM
2026-03-12 14:39:10 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:39:12 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:39:13 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:39:16 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:39:18 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:39:22 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out
2026-03-12 14:39:23 [warn] [Keepalive] Ping failed: Keep-alive ping timed out

Steps to Reproduce

Install Claude Desktop 1.1.6041 on Windows 10 (latest)
Open Claude Desktop and navigate to Cowork
Attempt to start a Cowork session
Observe "Request timed out" error

Troubleshooting already attempted (none resolved the issue):

Enabled HypervisorPlatform Windows feature (was missing — fixed the initial VM boot failure but not the keepalive issue)
Removed stale cowork NAT entries via Remove-NetNat
Removed stale HNS network entries via Remove-HnsNetwork
Ran wsl --shutdown before launching Cowork (WSL2/Ubuntu installed)
Confirmed Windows Defender is disabled and no VPN is running
Full Windows reboot after each step

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

Claude 1.1.6041 (62e193) 2026-03-10T20:11:22.000Z

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

PowerShell

Additional Information

_No response_