I've tried to install workstation 4.5.1 on linux mandrake 10 but when I tried to run vmware-config.pl I got:
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[root@localhost bin]# vmware-config.pl
Making sure VMware Workstation's services are stopped.

Stopping VMware services:
Virtual machine monitor [ OK ]

Trying to find a suitable vmmon module for your running kernel.

None of VMware Workstation's pre-built vmmon modules 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)? [no] 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? [/usr/src/linux/include]

The path "/usr/src/linux/include" is not an existing directory.

What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running
kernel? [/usr/src/linux/include]
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thank you for any help !

What´s the problem, then? The vmware.config.pl is trying to build vm modules for your kernel. You only have to hit enter in those questions, if you have the kernel headers installed and if they are at the location the config suggested.

In the original post, note the line

"The path "/usr/src/linux/include" is not an existing directory."

This means that he cannot just press return because it cannot find the folder specified. This is the problem!

I'm having the same problem and I have no idea what to do to fix it. I installed the kernal package using rpmdrake but it didn't help. I don't know where it put the include files.

I had the same problem, and I managed to fix it by installing the kernel source package using rpmdrake. I'm not sure where it resides in the list normally. I found it by doing a search for "kernel". After you do this the vmware tools installer should continue without any more problems.