[BUG] Cowork VM connection timeout — Windows 11 Home ARM64

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?

Description:
Cowork fails to start with "VM connection timeout after 60 seconds" on every attempt. All standard troubleshooting has been completed without resolution.
System info:

Windows 11 Home, ARM64
Claude Desktop v1.2278.0.0 (arm64)

Troubleshooting already completed:

Restarted app and computer multiple times
Reinstalled workspace via in-app option
Installed WSL2 (Default Version: 2, Ubuntu)
Manually restarted CoworkVMService via PowerShell
Ran wsl --shutdown to clear stuck VM

Log findings (cowork_vm_node.log):
VM boots successfully (vm_boot completed in 136ms, add_plan9_shares completed), but guest agent never responds. Host times out after 60 seconds waiting for guest connection:
[VM:steps] vm_boot completed (136ms)
[VM:steps] add_plan9_shares completed (15ms)
[VM:start] Still waiting for guest connection... 10261ms elapsed
[VM:start] Still waiting for guest connection... 51185ms elapsed
[VM:error] Connection timeout, last completed step: add_plan9_shares
[VM:error] Startup failed: Error: VM connection timeout after 60 seconds
This appears to be the known ARM64 + Windows Home compatibility issue referenced in GitHub issues #42784, #44007, and #46516. Please advise on a fix or timeline for ARM64 support.

What Should Happen?

Cowork workspace should start successfully and connect to the VM guest agent, allowing task execution in the desktop environment.

Error Messages/Logs

[VM:steps] vm_boot completed (136ms)
[VM:steps] add_plan9_shares completed (15ms)
[VM:start] Still waiting for guest connection... 10261ms elapsed
[VM:start] Still waiting for guest connection... 51185ms elapsed
[VM:error] Connection timeout, last completed step: add_plan9_shares
[VM:error] Startup failed: Error: VM connection timeout after 60 seconds

Steps to Reproduce

1. Open Claude Desktop on Windows 11 Home ARM64
2. Click on the Cowork tab
3. Observe error: "Failed to start Claude's workspace — VM connection timeout after 60 seconds"
4. Error persists regardless of how many times the workspace is reopened

Claude Model

None

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

1.2278.0.0

Platform

Other

Operating System

Windows

Terminal/Shell

PowerShell

Additional Information

This is a Claude Desktop Cowork issue, not Claude Code CLI.

Device: Windows 11 Home ARM64
Troubleshooting completed:

• Restarted app and computer multiple times
• Reinstalled workspace via in-app option
• Installed WSL2 (Default Version: 2, Ubuntu)
• Manually restarted CoworkVMService via PowerShell
• Ran wsl --shutdown to clear stuck VM

VM boots successfully but guest agent never responds. Related issues: #42784, #44007, #46516.