I am running VMWare Player 6.01 on a CentOS 6.5 host. I created a Ubuntu 12.04 guest and allowed the create process to install VMWare tools. I can copy and paste files between the host and the guest as expected.

Not liking the overgrown-smartphone (Unity) interface I installed gnome-shell (gnome3). I can still copy and paste files.

I built another Ubuntu 12.04 guest. This time I installed the Mate interface. After doing so I cannot copy and paste files. I reinstalled VMWare tools manually. I still cannot copy/paste files.

I have a CentOS 6.5 guest which uses gnome2 (the parent of Mate). Copy/paste between host and guest works fine.

It therefore appears that something in Mate is causing the issue. I am at a loss for how to proceed. Any suggestions?

TIA,

Ken

I can't say for sure but I'd think that the vmware tools are the issue. Maybe the vmware forums might know how tools actually cut and paste across like that. The build for tools is pretty complex, take a look at it or do it line by line even. Look for the dependencies.

I'd make a copy of the working system (copy virtual hard drive) and then remove gnome or just add in mate and see if it is mate that messes it up.

Thanks jefro,

It is no doubt related to VMWare Tools as copy/paste capability does not exist before Tools are installed. This is not a critical install - just experimenting. What I really want to build is a sort of kiosk VM with only a few selected apps. In the Red Hat world I can install the OS and select which packages I want from the start. On the Ubuntu side I get everything including the kitchen sink and 3 plumbers. For my next trick I am going to install Ubuntu server then add Mate and then Tools and see what happens. I may also try Fedora and add just what I want. I would use CentOS - as I have on my physical machine - except that installing vlc player is more aggravation than I want to deal with (it can be done and I have it running but...)

Ken