"Install VMware Tools" greyed out after installing ubuntu 15.04 on vmware player 7.1

Question

"Install VMware Tools" greyed out after installing Ubuntu 15.04 on VMware Player 7.1. I tried checking "No proxy" instead of default "Windows proxy settings" at "File->Preferences->Software updates-> Connection Settings". This did not work either. Is there a way to install VMware Tools?

Solution 1

I had the same issue. Like the answer posted before, I had to shutdown the machine and change both the floppy drive and cd drives to "Auto detect" and then power on the machine.

Solution 2

I unmounted the two ISOs which were mounted because of the Easy Install. After that I was able to push the "Install VMware Tools" button in the dropdown menu.

Solution 3

This worked for me on Ubuntu 16.04

sudo apt-get install open-vm-tools-desktop

Solution 4

You can mount VMwareTools CD image manualy, file path is like this:

C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Workstation\linux.iso

Solution 5

A good solution for Ubuntu as a VMWare guest is to install the open VMWare tools: This can be done from the command line with the command

sudo apt-get install --install-suggests open-vmware-tools

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Comments

[Elder Geek]

I think you mean Any supported version of Ubuntu >=14.04 See packages.ubuntu.com/…

[Matiss]

@ByteCommander Well that command did not work for me, but i found another solution and posted it as answer.

[terdon]

@ByteCommander note that it's a different package name.

[Byte Commander]

@terdon Is it? Oh, oops... I must have been a little sleepy... Thanks for paying attention.

[Joni Nevalainen]

Also make sure you select the OS correctly in VMWare settings. When the OS is "other", Install VMWare Tools menu is greyed out.

[JimSTAT]

just adding the cd-rom device back worked for me - floppy not necessary

[thomasa88]

Thanks! I did not have to shutdown the machine - the option was non-greyed instantly.

[Reeshabh Ranjan]

This works, but why?

[copper.hat]

+1: Thanks, lifesaver.

[KulaGGin]

Works, but this is some cringe, VMWare. The answer posted in 2015, we're in 2022 and I just had this issue and it took me an hour to fix this lmao.

[KulaGGin]

2025: we'll have to rub a leprechaun in order for Install VMWare Tools button to become active.