Hi!
Sorry for creating another post about this, I see a lot of others have problem with the same, but none actually provided what I needed.
When trying to update, it hangs on Connecting (https://softwareupdate.vmware.com/cds).
I upgraded my vmware-installation (download manually), but for some reason the msi-packages with the Tools got some error during install and was never installed, now I'm missing all VMware Tools.
When i try to visit the following url:
https://softwareupdate.vmware.com/vmw-desktop
I get "File not found", and I have tried this on several machines, on 3 different inet-connections, all the same.
For some reason I am able to list:
http://softwareupdate.vmware.com/cds/vmw-desktop/ws
But when I enter the 7.1.4-folder, i get "File not found".
So, does anyone know the reason for this, or can give me the direct link to all the tools for WS 7.1.4 ?
I have looked everywhere on vmware.com for standalone download of the Tools.. This could have been so simple 
Thanks a bunch!
Accepted Solutions
The link to the metadata.xml.gz file is included in case one wants to check the sah256 checksums of the downloaded files. It's compressed and the metadata.xml file needs to be extracted. You can then open the metadata.xml file in a text editor and get the sha256 checksum for the downloaded file and check to make sure the download was valid.
For the VMware Tools, first the contents of the tarball needs to be extracted.
Next in the case of Windows Host just execute the extracted *.exe and it will install the VMware Tools *.iso file into the Products working directory and this is a silent install and it will appear as thought nothing happened, even though something did. Then proceed to install VMware Tools normally from the Product's GUI while following directions in the VMware Product's Help File.
On a Linux Host untar the tarball and then in a Terminal, as an example run the following command:
sudo vmware-installer --install-component=vmware-tools-windows-8.4.6-385536.i386.component
This then brings up the Installer GUI and then you just follow the prompts.
Here is an image from an older install.
When done the VMware Tools *.iso will be available when selecting Install VMware Tools. Then proceed to install VMware Tools normally from the Product's GUI while following directions in the VMware Product's Help File.
First: Could not having the up to date tools be a reason why I cannot connect my flash drive to the VM?
With the Host recognizing the USB Flash Drive, I've had no problems connecting a USB Flash Drive to a Virtual Machine that does not have VMware Tools installed. However it may depend what Guest OS you're running although I can't recall any major OS released say in the last 5 years that required VMware Tools installed to recognize the USB Flash Drive.
Second: Could you do a step-by-step for the novice user?... am using red hat linux
Since it isn't totally clear exactly what your issue is and while you said you're using Red Hat Linux and didn't say explicitly and specifically what Red Hat Linux you're using and whether it was the Host or Guest and which ever it was what the other is and what VMware Product and version you're using then no! I mean really, would you go to the doctor and say you're not feeling good and not say anything else and expect the doctor to properly diagnose what's wrong just from that? 
If I have to guess everything then all I can say is RT*M!