First answer to Bernd,
Yes, I also tried without using Easy Install (i.e. custom) same thing happens.
Second answers to Martin,
I've never used right click Run as Admin, even when installing Windows Server VMs or other systems (CentOS etc.). Don't see why I should start now. Besides Run as Admin is really only used when running from C Drive, I've installed VMWorkstation to D:
I would have hoped VMWare would have sorted any need to Run as Admin a long time ago knowing how UAC is such a pain.
Installation proceeds to 83% (server) because the Ubuntu installer says so, so Ubuntu starts to install and proceeds but VMWare Hangs during installation.
Ubuntu Desktop fails even sooner in install, to the point of hanging VMware.
You might say that the ISO is corrupt, well I've unzipped it using 2 different Zip mechanisms and the ISO is fine so I don't think it's that.
Trouble is, I can't even turn the VM off - it's busy, so I have to Crash VMWorkstation using task manager. When I restart VMWorkstation the VM is still running and inoperable, I can't turn it off or anything forcing a reboot of the whole system
VMware.log attached - for the server and
VMware Desktop.log - renamed from original for the desktop
regards