How to Install VMWare Tools that Enables Copy and Paste Between Host Machine and Virtual Machine

One of the important features that VMware Tools has is the ability to copy data from the virtual machine to the host operating system or vice-versa. Here are the steps of how to install VMware Tools

(source: https://www.ghacks.net/2019/11/08/how-to-install-vmware-tools-if-the-option-is-grayed-out/):

  1. Start the Virtual Machine. Click on “Player” -> “Manage” -> “Install VMware Tools…”.
  2. If the “Install VMware Tools…” is greyed out, power off the Virtual Machine.
  3. Go to “Player” -> “Manage” -> “Virtual Machine Settings…”
  4. Highlight “CD/DVD (SATA)”, then click “Remove”.
  5. Do the same for “Floppy” Drive.
  6. After that click “Add” button and select “CD/DVD Drive”. Click “Finish”.
  7. The right pane of new added “CD/DVD Drive” should now have the option “Use physical drive > Auto detect” enabled. Click “OK” to close the window.
  8. Now start the Virtual Machine again. After it has booted up to the desktop, go to “Player” -> “Manage” -> “Instal VMware Tools…”. The option should no longer be greyed out. Click on it to install the VMware Tools.