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

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 fails to start every time on ARM64 Windows 11 Home. The VM infrastructure starts successfully (all setup steps complete in under 1 second) but the Linux guest kernel never boots, causing a 60-second timeout. This happens consistently across multiple Claude versions and after multiple reinstalls.

cowork_vm_node.log

What Should Happen?

Expected: Cowork starts and the workspace VM connects successfully

Actual: VM connection times out after 60 seconds every time — the Linux guest never boots

Device: ARM64 Windows 11 Home (e.g. Surface Pro X / Snapdragon)

Error Messages/Logs

vm_boot completed (126ms)
[60 seconds of waiting...]
Connection timeout, last completed step: add_plan9_shares
VM connection timeout after 60 seconds

Steps to Reproduce

1. Install Claude on ARM64 Windows 11 Home (Snapdragon)
2. Open Claude and attempt to start a Cowork session
3. VM times out after 60 seconds every time

Claude Model

Not sure / Multiple models

Is this a regression?

No, this never worked

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

1.1617

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Windows Terminal

Additional Information

_No response_