I'm trying VMware for the first time, and impressed about the ease of installation and how well it works!! ... EXCEPT I haven't been able to install VMware Tools (and a few other small issues, most of which VMware Tools might solve).
On a Ubuntu 16.04 OS, I've installed VMware Workstation 14 Player (downloaded within just the last few days), and then a Windows 8.1 virtual machine (from an old computer with a hardware problem about to be discarded, using VMware vCenter Converter Standalone Client), and I remember seeing a notice of VMtools apparently downloading automatically (to where, I don't know...), but on the toolbar at the top, under Virtual Machine, the option to "Install VMware Tools..." is dimmed and cannot be launched by clicking on it. I've been using this computer for a day already to test to see what works and what might not, but this problem with VMware Tools has not been resolved despite spending a lot of time researching it and trying to find a solution.
When the virtual machine starts, a message pops up saying "Install the VMware Tools package inside this virtual machine. After the guest operating system starts,
select VM > Install VMware Tools ... and follow the instructions."
(Notably, I would suggest rewriting that last phrase to something like
"from the toolbar, select Virtual Machine > Install VMware Tools..."
as it's not clear what is meant by "select VM".)
I am logged in as an Administrator account on both the underlying Ubuntu OS and also within Windows 8.1 in the virtual machine. The internet works (and I'm posting this message from within this virtual machine). I have rebooted the entire computer several times, by proper shut downs of both the virtual guest computer and the host operating system, hoping that would help, as I read somewhere that rebooting the entire system might help with VMware Tools, but it made no difference with this system.
I have read that VMware Tools cannot be installed manually but must be installed by VMware, and in another place I read that it automatically loads as an ISO onto a virtual DVD but I have no virtual DVD showing up in my virtual machine. I figure that it should be just clickable from the toolbar ... and it shows up there, but it is shaded out and not clickable.
Any ideas regarding why "Install VMware Tools..." is presented on the menu but is not clickable, or any ideas of a solution?
I am trying the free home version of Player thus far, to first see whether or not this will work completely. Is VMware Tools only available after purchase of a license key?
(Moving an OS from old hardware to new hardware might best be done by Converter and Player, to keep all your configuration settings and *entire* setup turnkey, so I'm hoping this will work well enough to adopt as a solution, versus moving the OS and everything as the sole OS to boot up successfully on the new hardware with all the necessary drivers and technical steps trying to avoid the potential blue screen of death. Also, running Linux and Windows concurrently and being able to switch between them for the best of both worlds may be better than booting separately at different times. Hoping Workstation Player or Pro works well enough to be the best overall solution, all considered...)
