Installing VMware Tools in a virtual machine fails with the error: This virtual machine does not have a CD-ROM drive configured

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• Cannot install VMware Tools in a virtual machine that does not have a CD-ROM drive configured
• Installing VMware Tools in a virtual machine that does not have a CD-ROM drive fails
• In the vSphere Client, you see the error:
  
  This virtual machine does not have a CD-ROM drive configured. A virtual machine must have a CD-ROM drive configured for this option to work.
   
• This error is also seen in the Tasks and Events tab of the virtual machine

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 5.0
VMware ESX 4.1.x
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Installable
VMware ESX 4.0.x
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Embedded
VMware ESXi 4.0.x Installable
VMware ESXi 4.1.x Embedded

Cause

This issue occurs because the VMware Tools installation requires a CD-ROM drive to mount the VMware Tools installer.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, add a CD-ROM drive to the virtual machine and then retry the installation.

 

For more information, see Add a CD/DVD Drive.

 

For a list of supported guest and host operating systems, see the VMware Compatibility Guide.