Cannot install VMware Tools because a virtual machine's CD-ROM drive does not work

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• A virtual machine's CD-ROM drive does not work
• You cannot install VMware Tools

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 6.7
VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.0
VMware vSphere ESXi 6.5

Resolution

The CD-ROM drive may not work if the operating system does assign the correct driver. Since VMware Tools cannot be installed without a CD-ROM drive, the incorrect network driver is also assigned to the NIC.

 

To resolve this issue, you must assign the correct driver.

 

To assign the correct driver:

1. Select the VM in the inventory
2. Right click on the VM and select Edit Settings
3. select add a new device and select the CD-ROM under Disk, Driver and storage
   
4. once completed again right click on the VM and select Guest --> install vmware tools