Since kernel version 4 there are some issues with running workstaion 12 as the kernels modules fail. Below are instructions how to change the original TAR files so that they are patched and will work
(remember to run sudo apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r)to install headers)
cd /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source
mkdir 1
cd 1
tar xvf ../vmmon.tar
mv ../vmmon.tar ../vmmon.tar.old
cat > t.patch
390,392c390
< if (misc_deregister(&linuxState.misc)) {
< Warning("Module %s: error unregistering\n", linuxState.deviceName);
< }
---
> misc_deregister(&linuxState.misc);
**PRESS CTRL C***
patch vmmon-only/linux/driver.c < t.patch
rm -rf t.patch
tar cfv ../vmmon.tar *