Updating VMware Tools fails with the error: Update Tools failed. Edit the virtual machine’s vmx file

Updating VMware Tools fails with the error: Update Tools failed. Edit the virtual machine’s vmx file

Symptoms

• You are unable to update VMware Tools
• Updating VMware Tools fails
• You see the error:
  Update Tools failed. Edit the virtual machine's vmx file, add the line below and try again. Please read KB article 1714 on tips for editing a vmx file.
isolation.tools.guestInitiatedUpgrade.disable = "FALSE"

Cause

This issue only occurs when using the update VMTools button from within the guest operating system.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, add the necessary setting to the virtual machine configuration file.

• Go to Edit settings from VM
• Go to Options
• Go to General (picture 1)
• Go to button Configuration Parameters (picture 1)
• Go down to last rule and klik Add row (picture 2)
• Put isolation.tools.guestInitiatedUpgrade.disable  in the Name field (picture 3)
• Put FALSE in the Value field (picture 3)
• Click OK and start VM
• Now you can use the update tools button in the VM without errors

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3