Troubleshooting VMWare Workstation Pro 16: Installing Ubuntu without Grayed-Out Options

Are you having trouble installing or reinstalling VMWare tools on your Ubuntu virtual machine using VMWare Workstation Pro 16? If so, you're not alone. This issue can be frustrating, especially when trying to troubleshoot and resolve the problem.

To overcome this hurdle, follow these simple steps:

1. Start by clicking 'OK' to close the window and begin the VM as usual. Make sure that the right pane has the option 'Use Physical Drive > Auto Detect' enabled.

2. Next, click on the 'Add button' and select 'CD/DVD' Drive. This step may seem optional, but it's what fixed the issue for me. Ensure you complete this step to proceed.

3. Repeat the process of removing the Floppy Drive by highlighting it under the Hardware tab and clicking the remove button.

4. Highlight the CD/Drive on the left sidebar and click on the remove button as well.

5. To edit the hardware settings, select the 'Settings' option from the dropdown menu. This will allow you to make necessary adjustments to your VM configuration.

6. Finally, open VMWare Workstation Player and right-click on the VM. The 'Install/Reinstall VMWare tools' option should no longer be grayed out, allowing you to proceed with installing or reinstalling VMWare tools on your Ubuntu virtual machine.

This solution is not limited to Windows installations; it should work regardless of the virtual operating system you're using. If you're still experiencing issues, feel free to reach out and share your experience with others in the community.

By following these simple steps, you'll be able to overcome the grayed-out option issue when installing or reinstalling VMWare tools on your Ubuntu virtual machine using VMWare Workstation Pro 16.

Vmware workstation pro 16 ubuntu