Installing VMware Tools in a Windows virtual machine fails while installing the VMXnet driver

Products

• VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Cannot install VMware Tools on a Windows virtual machine
• Installing VMware Tools on a Windows virtual machine fails while installing the VMXnet driver
• The virtual machine loses network connectivity

Environment

VMware Workstation 8.x (Linux)
VMware Player 3.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation Player 14.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 9.x (Linux)
VMware Fusion Pro 8.x
VMware Fusion 8.x
VMware Workstation Pro 15.x (Windows)
VMware Player Pro 7.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation Player 15.x (Linux)
VMware Player 5.x (Linux)
VMware Player 6.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation Player 15.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation 10.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation 10.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation Pro 15.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 11.x (for Linux)
VMware Player 5.x (Windows)
VMware Player 4.x (Linux)
VMware Player 3.x (Windows )
VMware Workstation Pro 14.x (for Linux)
VMware Player Pro 7.x (Linux)
VMware Player 7.x (Linux)
VMware Fusion Pro 11.x
VMware Fusion 11.x
VMware Player 4.x (Windows)
VMware Player 7.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation 7.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 8.x (Windows)
VMware Fusion 10.x
VMware Fusion Pro 10.x
VMware Workstation Pro 14.x (for Windows)
VMware Workstation Player 14.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation 7.x (Windows)
VMware Player 6.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 9.x (Windows)
VMware Workstation 11.x (for Windows)

Cause

This issue occurs if the virtual machine was created in a previous version of VMware Workstation and uses the AMD PCNET virtual network adapter.

 

To check the network adapter type, check Device Manager in the Windows virtual machine.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, perform a a custom installation of VMware Tools on the guest operating system.

 

To perform a a custom installation of VMware Tools:

1. Launch the VMware Tools installation.
2. In the installation wizard, select the option to perform a custom installation.
3. Click Next.
4. Click + next to VMware Tools to expand the available components for installation.
5. Click the VMXnet NIC driver and select the This feature will not be available option.
6. Click Next.
7. Complete the wizard.
8. Restart the virtual machine when prompted.

Alternatively, you can remove the AMD PCNET virtual network adapter from the virtual machine and then add a new virtual NIC.

 

To remove the AMD PCNET virtual network adapter from the virtual machine and to add a new virtual NIC:

1. Navigate to VM > Settings in the VMware Workstation toolbar.
2. Remove the exiting network adapter from the virtual machine.
3. Start the VMware Tools installation and perform a Typical or Complete install.
4. After the installation completes, restart the virtual machine when prompted.
5. Add a new virtual network adapter.
6. Click OK.

Additional Information

For related troubleshooting information, see General VMware Tools installation instructions (1014294).

 

Overview of VMware Tools