VMware Workstation 12 Player Version 12.1 Release Notes

VMware Workstation 12 Player Version 12.1| 8 DEC 2015 | Build 3272444 Last updated: 8 DEC 2015 Check for additions and updates to these release notes.

What's in the Release Notes

The release notes cover the following topics:

• About VMware Workstation Player
• What's New
• Prior Releases
• Known Issues
• Resolved Issues

About VMware Workstation Player

VMware Workstation Player (formerly known as Player Pro) is a streamlined desktop virtualization application that runs one or more operating systems on the same computer without rebooting. VMware Workstation Player provides a simple user interface, unmatched operating system support, and portability.

For more information, see the broader VMware Workstation Player documentation or specifically the respective VMware Workstation Player Documentation Center:

• VMware Workstation 12 Player for Windows Documentation Center
• VMware Workstation 12 Player for Linux Documentation Center

What's New

VMware Workstation 12 Player version 12.1 is a maintenance release that resolves some known issues. It is a free upgrade for all VMware Workstation 12 Player users.

Prior Releases

Features and Known Issues from prior releases of VMware Workstation Player are described in the release notes for each release. To view release notes for prior releases of VMware Workstation 12 Player, click the following links:

• VMware Workstation 12 Player Version 12.0.1
• VMware Workstation 12 Player

Known Issues

The following issues might occur in this version of VMware Workstation Player.

• Upgrading the guest to Windows 10 version 1511 might prevent VMware Tools related features from working
  When you upgrade major Windows versions, such as Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1, to Windows 10 version 1511, VMware Tools related features, such as shared folders and Unity mode or view, do not work.
  Workaround: The following workarounds consist of the same steps, but performed at different points in relationship to the upgrade.
  • To prevent this issue from occurring, perform the following steps.
    1. Uninstall VMware Tools before you upgrade a Windows guest to Windows 10 version 1511.
    2. Reboot the virtual machine.
    3. After the upgrade, install VMware Tools again.
  • If this issue occurs after you upgrade to Windows 10 version 1511, perform the following steps to enable all VMware Tools related features to function.
    1. Uninstall VMware Tools from the guest operating system.
    2. Reboot the virtual machine.
    3. Reinstall VMware Tools.

• The Easy Install option does not complete the installation for Windows 10 Version 1511 guests
  When you use the Easy Install option to install the Windows 10 version 1511 guest operating system, the installation process stops
  at the "Select the operating system you want to install” screen.
  Workaround: Complete the installation process manually by selecting an operating system and clicking Next.
  

• On a Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview host, Help links do not appear
  When you attempt to access Help in VMware Workstation Pro or VMware Workstation Player on a Windows Server Technical Preview host, Microsoft Edge (the default browser) fails to launch, which prevents Help links from appearing. Instead, the following error message appears: The specified module cannot be found.
  Workaround: Change the default web browser from Microsoft Edge to a browser such as Internet Explorer, Chrome, or Firefox.
  

Resolved Issues

The following issues were resolved in this version of VMware Workstation Player.

• During the Easy Install process, VMware Workstation Pro misinterprets Windows 10 Version 1511 ISO images as Windows server 2012 R2 images
  When creating a new virtual machine, if you select a Windows 10 version 1511 ISO file in the New Virtual Machine Wizard, the wizard says "Windows 10 detected. The operating system will use Easy Install". But in the next step, the "Version of Windows to install" dialog box only displays options for Windows Server 2012 R2.
  
  This issue is resolved.

• The Microsoft Excel application responds to input with a one-second delay
  When you run Microsoft Excel 2013 on a Windows 10 virtual machine, the application responds to your input with a one-second delay.
  
  This issue is resolved.

• When you issue the vmrun command with the nogui option on VMware Workstation 12 Player, the command fails
  
  This issue is resolved.

• A UAS device connected to a USB 3.0 port on a Windows 7 or later host might fail to successfully connect to the guest
  When a UAS device is connected to a guest operating system and you turn the device off and back on, the device does not successfully reconnect to the guest. In Workstation Pro when you select VM > Removable Devices, the device is listed as connected to the guest, but the device does not appear in Windows Explorer within the guest.
  
  This issue is resolved.