Unable to install VMware Tools (several warning and error messages then guest windows 7 hung)

[irw777]

Host: Windows 11 Home 22H2

Guest: Windows 7 SP1 professional (also tried with Windows 7 SP1 Home with the same error)

VM Player full 17,0.0 build 20800274

VMware Tools: 12.3.0 (also tried with 12.2.5 with the same error)

During installation I got several warning and error messages:

Warning message "Windows can't verify the publisher of this driver software" and I choose "Install this driver anyway"

Error message "Setup failed to install the VSock virtual Machine Commuinication sockets driver automatically. This driver has to be installed manually"

Warning message on USB mouse and PS2 mouse driver.

The last error message was: Setup failed to install the Memory Control Driver automatically. This driver will have to be installed manually.

After this message guest windows 7 hung, I was not able to move the mouse cursor to the OK button and have to terminate with ESC key, the VMware Tools installation is rolled back.

Appreciate all suggestions, thank you.

[Technogeezer]

Have you made sure that Microsoft KB4474419 is installed iin your Windows 7 SP1 VM: : https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/sha-2-code-signing-support-update-for-windows-server-2008-...

VMware Tools release notes for 12.3.0 and 12.2.5 indicate this update needs to be installed.

[irw777]

Thank you for your reply.

Unfortunately, until now I was not able to apply fix kb4474419 in this windows7 SP1 system. Tried to run Windows update I got error:  "An error occurred while checking for new updates for your computer. Error code 80072EFE Windows update encountered an unknown error."

I was able to download kb4474419 (in host windows 11). But how can I install this fix in guest (windows 7)? Until now there is no "sharing of folders/files" between my host and guest. That is the reason that I want to install VMware tools.

So maybe the best solution will be to find a windows 7 iso system with kb4474419 applied, maybe SP2 or SP3? But I cannot find such ISO files.

[CarltonR]

. . . either:

- copy the KB4474419 file you downloaded on the Win 11 Host to an external USB drive, once done, within VMware Player move the USB drive to the Win 7 VM, and copy/run.

   or

- On the Win 7 VM download Microsoft

Microsoft Win 7 [x64] KB4474419

Microsoft Win 7 [x32] KB4474419

Note: Then suggest disabling the Win 7 VM's Network Interface, it's old, out-of-support, and vulnerable !

[irw777]

Thank you for your reply with the solution.

I was able to apply fix KB4474419 through USB stick. First this did not work and guest windows 7 did not recognized the USB. After plug in the USB stick to another USB port (which is USB 2) the USB stick is readable in guest windows 7.

WIth KB4474419 applied I was able to install VMware Tools 12.3.0 and the shared folders from host can now be accessed from guest windows 7.

Thank you also to Technogeezer for mentioning the need of KB4474419.