Can't Install files from a CD

Hi cakoehler,

The problem is most likely that the VMWare CD is for Windows. You can install VMWare for Linux through Applications > Add/Remove...
Search for vmware, check the box, and click apply changes. For more information on installing files, see https://help.ubuntu.com/8.04/add-applications/C/index.html

cloudfx,
  I did as you said, "Applications > Add/Remove... Search for vmware"
Vmware was not found in the add/remove section.

by the by, i got the vmware from thepiratebay and burned it to a CD just before switching from windows to Ubuntu... the main reason i want to install vmware is that i run allot of Microsoft based games that will not run on Linux i guess, such as guild wars and bio shock

I just realized that VMware was removed from the repository. Thats no problem though, as it can still be downloaded from the site. You can find it here: http://download3.vmware.com/software/vmserver/VMware-server-1.0.5-80187.tar.gz. Even though this is the server edition, it works perfectly fine for a regular desktop--I've been using it for ages with no issues.

i cannot get said file to install... i open after download and go to install file double click and when prompted to run in terminal or run i choose run and nothing happens?

sorry for all the trouble.

Alright, here's where I said I was going to assist you.
So just to make sure, you've downloaded the file, as well as extracted it?

Assuming you have, do the following:
1. Move the VMware Server folder onto your desktop, just to make things easier
2. Open up a terminal window (Applications > Accessories > Terminal)
3. enter 'cd Desktop/vmware-server-distrib' (without quotes) and press enter.
4. enter 'sudo ./vmware-install.pl '
5. Whenever questioned on where to save directories, just press enter, and stick to the defaults.
6. When you get to the End User License Agreement (EULA), hold down enter to scroll through it.
7. Continue pressing enter and sticking to default.
8. The application should now install

I have done everything you said to the letter.... when i enter after "sudo" it asks for password but does not let me type it in....

That is how sudo works. Enter the password... you will not be able to see the characters.... and press enter.

None of the pre-built vmmon modules for VMware Server is suitable for your
running kernel. Do you want this program to try to build the vmmon module for
your system (you need to have a C compiler installed on your system)? [yes]

Using compiler "/usr/bin/gcc". Use environment variable CC to override.

What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running
kernel? [/lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/build/include]

Extracting the sources of the vmmon module.

Building the vmmon module.

Using 2.6.x kernel build system.
make: Entering directory `/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only'
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.24-16-generic/build/include/.. SUBDIRS=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.24-16-generic'
  CC [M] /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.o
In file included from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./include/vmware.h:25,
                 from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:48:
/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./include/vm_basic_types.h:159: error: redefinition of typedef ‘uintptr_t’
include/linux/types.h:40: error: previous declaration of ‘uintptr_t’ was here
In file included from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.h:20,
                 from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:49:
/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./include/compat_wait.h:37:5: warning: "VMW_HAVE_EPOLL" is not defined
/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./include/compat_wait.h:43:5: warning: "VMW_HAVE_EPOLL" is not defined
In file included from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.h:20,
                 from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:49:
/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./include/compat_wait.h:60: error: conflicting types for ‘poll_initwait’
include/linux/poll.h:65: error: previous declaration of ‘poll_initwait’ was here
/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:147: warning: initialization from incompatible pointer type
/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:151: warning: initialization from incompatible pointer type
/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c: In function ‘LinuxDriver_Ioctl’:
/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:1659: error: ‘struct mm_struct’ has no member named ‘dumpable’
make[2]: *** [/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [_module_/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.24-16-generic'
make: *** [vmmon.ko] Error 2
make: Leaving directory `/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only'
Unable to build the vmmon module.

For more information on how to troubleshoot module-related problems, please
visit our Web site at "http://www.vmware.com/download/modules/modules.html" and
"http://www.vmware.com/support/reference/linux/prebuilt_modules_linux.html".

Execution aborted.

Hmm.. I'm actually unsure of this error. I would suggest checking out the websites provided for help on this.

web site was no help

Maybe you want to consider using qemu or another free software allowing you to run multiple OSs simultaneously instead of vmware.

Instructions how to install qemu are here: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/QemuEmulator

Hope this helps

Umm - I might be interested in running VMWare in the future... could someone please tell me *why* it hasn't been tested and packaged by Canonical for the OS?

Seeing that last time I looked - they were listed on Canonical's list of partners...

On here - about 7 down. http://www.ubuntu.com/products/softwarecatalogue

Thanks Ralph Janke, that solved my question.

Ralph Janke,
if possible could you tell me how to ramp up the memory allotment in "qemu."
More specifically, i am trying to install windows sp2 with Qemu. I did everything as right as i could,
the window opened and started to run everything fine; when it asked me what drive i wanted to install to it only alloted 999mb to the drive; so i was wondering what would i have to do in qemu to change that 999mb to lets say 50gb

Have a look at this wiki page:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/QemuEmulator