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finsandbub
Contributor
Contributor

Workstation 16.2.0 cannot use paste.

Before upgrading to v16.2.0 build-18760230 from v16 I could use Edit -> Paste, but not Crtl+V to paste into a Centos7 guest. Since upgrading to 16.2.0 I can't even do that. I've made sure that the guest is running open-vm-tools (x86_64 0:11.0.5-3.e17_9.3). It's a feature I use daily so it needs to work. How do I get it to work?

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ddpruitt999
Contributor
Contributor

I had the same problem. Worked in 16.1.2, updated to 16.2 for vague "security fixes". Paste stopped working immediately. Tried all the solutions listed, uninstall reinstall vmware, disable renable past in guest isolation, disable sharing, etc. For my use I need basic pasting to work properly. The only solution I found was to remove 16.2 and go back to 16.1.2. It started working again.

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Lev115
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

and i have this problem

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rioujin1
Contributor
Contributor

Same problem.

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joshiga
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

If Copy/Paste feature between Host to Guest  is enabled then only we should be able paste content via Paste | Menu from Host to Guest. 

After installing open-vm-tools, please make sure they are running. 

Now Can you please confirm after enabling copy-paste and dnd in guest isolation settings, does the normal Copy-Paste and DnD work for you from Host and Guest (and vice-versa)?

If above works, then ideally that paste via Host Menu should be working.

Let us know about the results. 

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finsandbub
Contributor
Contributor

open-vm-tools is installed and running.

In the VM (Centos7):
sudo vmsystemctl start vmtoolsd.service
vmtoolsd -v -> VMWare Tools daemon, version 11.0.5.17716 (build-15389592)

In VMWare Workstation:
r/c on running VM -> Settings... -> Options -> Guest Isolation -> both checkboxes checked (but greyedout) for Enable drag & drop and Enable copy and Paste.

Edit -> Paste still greyedout. Ctrl+V doesn't work.

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joshiga
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

- I understand  that Paste still greyedout and  Ctrl+V doesn't work.

Can you please confirm if below are working from Host to Guest (and vice-versa):

1) Copy/Paste (of any txt file and clipboard text)  and  

2) Drag and Drop of file

If those are not working, then Paste in Edit Menu is supposed to be Greyed-out(i.e is not enabled).

I am suspecting something is off in tools.

- In case vmtools are running, can you post output of following commands from the Guest VM:

> ps aux | grep -i vmtools ( It should ideally have two lines something similar to below)

root 759 0.1 0.1 248068 7756 ? Ssl 14:25 0:02 /usr/bin/vmtoolsd
test-vm 1884 0.2 1.2 644340 49132 ? Sl 14:25 0:02 /usr/bin/vmtoolsd -n vmusr --blockFd 3

> systemctl status vmtoolsd > systemctl status vgauthd

 Let us know about above things.

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finsandbub
Contributor
Contributor

root 697 0.0 0.4 273012 4748 ? Ssl 08:53 0:15 /usr/bin/vmtoolsd
vagrant 5235 0.0 0.0 112816 992 tty1 S+ 14:07 0:00 grep --color=auto -1 vmtools

Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/vmtoolsd.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
Active: active (running) since Tue 2021-10-26 08:41;52 UTC; 5h 26min ago
Docs: http://github.com/vmware/open-vm-tools
Main PID: 697 (vmtoolsd)
CGroup: system.slice/vmtoolsd.service
697 /usr/bin/vmtoolsd -s

vgauthd.service - VGAuth Service for open-vm-tools
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/vgauthd.service; enabled; vendor preset: disabled)
Active: active (running) since Tue 2021-10-26 08:41;52 UTC; 5h 26min ago
Docs: http://github.com/vmware/open-vm-tools
Main PID: 696 (VGAuthService)
CGroup: system.slice/vgauthd.service
696 /usr/bin/VGAuthService -s
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breakstuffmajor
Contributor
Contributor

I had the same problem and yes, the only thing that fixed it for me as well was to downgrade to 16.1.2 via a manual uninstall/reinstall. In case anyone needs them, here are the steps to do that on a Ubuntu 20.04 host:

  1. Shutdown VMs
  2. sudo /usr/bin/vmware-installer -l
  3. sudo /usr/bin/vmware-installer -u vmware-workstation
  4. Download: https://customerconnect.vmware.com/downloads/details?downloadGroup=WKST-1612-LX&productId=1038
  5. Install: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Workstation-Pro/16.0/com.vmware.ws.using.doc/GUID-1F5B1F14-A586-4A...

 

finsandbub
Contributor
Contributor

Has anybody found a solution to this, apart from rolling back to the previous version?

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joshiga
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

> ps aux | grep -i vmtools ( It should ideally have two lines something similar to below)

root 759 0.1 0.1 248068 7756 ? Ssl 14:25 0:02 /usr/bin/vmtoolsd
test-vm 1884 0.2 1.2 644340 49132 ? Sl 14:25 0:02 /usr/bin/vmtoolsd -n vmusr --blockFd 3

Can you please confirm if you have installed open-vm-tools-desktop or not?

Your output doesn't have the second entry like mine. If not Can you please reinstall open-vm-tools-desktop  and open-vm-tools? Try normal copy paste scenarios first. 

If those are not working, then Paste in Edit Menu is supposed to be Greyed-out(i.e is not enabled).

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finsandbub
Contributor
Contributor

 

 

> ps aux | grep -i vmtools
root 681 0.2 0.4 273012 4736 ? Ssl 09:28 0:00 /usr/bin/vmtoolsd
vagrant 3769 0.0 0.0 112861 992 tty1 S+ 09:32 0.00 grep --color=auto -i vmtools

> vmtoolsd -v
VMware Tools daemon, version 11.0.5.177716 (build-15389592)

 

 

I've also upgrade to 16.2.1 build-18811642 and still no paste option

VMware Tools is active in Settings... -> Options

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joshiga
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Please install open-vm-tools with below commands and make sure those are successfull:

yum install open-vm-tools
yum install open-vm-tools-desktop

You need to start vmtoolsd and vgauthd, and reboot.

systemctl start vmtoolsd
systemctl start vgauthd

The behaviour you are seeing is expected as your tools are not installed properly.

If after running above commands if you still don't see the second entry like below,

Please file issue in open-vm-tools GitHub repo.

> ps aux | grep -i vmtools ( It should ideally have two lines something similar to below)

root 759 0.1 0.1 248068 7756 ? Ssl 14:25 0:02 /usr/bin/vmtoolsd
test-vm 1884 0.2 1.2 644340 49132 ? Sl 14:25 0:02 /usr/bin/vmtoolsd -n vmusr --blockFd 3

 

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Lev115
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

the problem is also relevant for version 16.2.1

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finsandbub
Contributor
Contributor

Yes, I've found that too. I was hoping they had fixed it in the update.

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joshiga
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Please install open-vm-tools with below commands and make sure those are successfull:

yum install open-vm-tools
yum install open-vm-tools-desktop

You need to start vmtoolsd and vgauthd, and reboot.

systemctl start vmtoolsd
systemctl start vgauthd

 

The behaviour you are seeing is expected if the tools are not installed/working properly.

Also dnd and Copy Paste should be enabled, then only Paste in Edit Menu  will be enabled and working

Otherwise it will not work and that's new expected behaviour.

If after running above commands if you still don't see the second entry like below,

It means tools are not working properly. 

Please file issue in open-vm-tools GitHub repo.

> ps aux | grep -i vmtools ( It should ideally have two lines something similar to below)

root 759 0.1 0.1 248068 7756 ? Ssl 14:25 0:02 /usr/bin/vmtoolsd
test-vm 1884 0.2 1.2 644340 49132 ? Sl 14:25 0:02 /usr/bin/vmtoolsd -n vmusr --blockFd 3

 

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finsandbub
Contributor
Contributor

 

ps aux | grep -i vmtools

root 699 0.2 0.4 273008 4780 ? Ssl 09:53 0:00 /usr/bin/vmtoolsd

vagrant 3779 0.0 0.0 112816 996 tty1 S+ 09:55 0:00 grep --color=auto -i vmtools

 

This is what I get. I'm not really sure what my second line is telling me, or for that matter what your second line is saying. So presumably I'll have to open an issue in open-vm-tools GitHub repo?

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joshiga
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

The second command is when the desktop user (user) logged in since installing open-vm-tools-desktop and tools are

working properly as expected. Its required to run to make sure drag and drop and copy-paste working. Without that copy paste will not work and its expected. 

 

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joshiga
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Please add full  details as asked in https://github.com/vmware/open-vm-tools/issues/555

This issue we will track in open-vm-tools issues.

Thanks,

Gaurav

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kylebegle
Contributor
Contributor

Still having this issue on Windows 10 Enterprise 21H1. The only reason I paid for Workstation was for the ability to paste...

Windows 10 Enterprise, 64-bit (Build 19043.1348) 10.0.19043

v16.2.1 build-18811642

Worked completely fine on 16.1.x