[BUG] Cowork stuck at 99% on Windows 11 Home - CoworkVMService error 1066 despite Hyper-V installed via script

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 progress bar loads from 90% to 99% but never completes on Windows 11 Home. No error message shown — just hangs forever.

System Info:

• OS: Windows 11 Home 25H2 (Build 26200.8037)
• Claude Desktop version: 1.1.8359.0

Troubleshooting steps tried:

1. Moved vm_bundles (11GB) from C: to D: via symlink
2. Installed Hyper-V on Windows 11 Home via script
3. Enabled all Hyper-V features in Windows Features
4. Reinstalled Claude Desktop
5. Manually started CoworkVMService — starts then immediately stops

Error in Event Viewer:
Claude VM Service error: signature verification initialization failed: failed to get service executable path: The system cannot find the path specified.

Service status: CoworkVMService STOPPED, WIN32_EXIT_CODE: 1066

Related issues: #24918, #27906, #36392, #37070

What Should Happen?

Cowork should work on Windows 11 Home, or clearly document that Home edition is not supported so users don't waste hours troubleshooting.

Error Messages/Logs

Claude VM Service error: signature verification initialization failed: failed to get service executable path: The system cannot find the path specified.

CoworkVMService: STATE: STOPPED, WIN32_EXIT_CODE: 1066

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install Claude Desktop on Windows 11 Home
2. Open Cowork tab and click Get Started
3. Progress bar loads to 99% and hangs forever
4. Check Event Viewer - CoworkVMService fails with signature verification error

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

Claude Desktop 1.1.8359.0

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

Windows Terminal

Additional Information

Windows 11 Home does not support Cowork due to missing Hyper-V. This should be clearly documented. Related issues: #24918, #27906, #36392, #37070