Resolving Kerio Connect Client Crashes on Windows 11 Pro 24H2

Overview

The Kerio Connect Client crashes upon installation on Windows 11 Pro 24H2. No shortcut is created, and attempts to run the application manually also fail. This issue occurs due to the deprecated Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line (WMIC) utility, which the client relies on for OS detection. WMIC is disabled by default in recent Windows 11 builds, causing compatibility issues.

Solution

To address this issue, you can apply the following workaround to enable the Kerio Connect Client to function on Windows 11 Pro 24H2. This involves replacing WMIC with PowerShell in the registerClient.cmd file for OS detection.

Short-Term Workaround: Modify the registerClient.cmd File

1. Locate the registerClient.cmd File:

   • Navigate to the directory where the Kerio Connect Client is installed.
   • Locate the registerClient.cmd file, typically found in the installation folder.

2. Edit the File:

   • Open the registerClient.cmd file with a text editor, such as Notepad or Visual Studio Code.

3. Replace WMIC with PowerShell:

   • Find the section of the script that uses the WMIC command for detecting the OS version.
   • Replace the WMIC command with an equivalent PowerShell command.

     :: Original WMIC Command
     wmic os get Caption
     
     :: Replace with PowerShell Command
     powershell -Command "(Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem).Caption"
     

4. Save Changes:

   • Save the modified registerClient.cmd file.

5. Enable the Kerio Connect Client:

   • Run the modified registerClient.cmd file to re-register the client with the operating system.

Option 2: Enable WMIC Temporarily

If editing scripts is not possible, WMIC can be re-enabled temporarily:

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Optional Features in Windows 11.
2. Search for and install the WMIC Optional Feature.
3. Once the issue is resolved, remove WMIC to maintain system security.

Reference Documentation

• WMIC Utility Deprecation Announcement