Symptom

In Lab 7.1, while attempting to deploy a VM from a template, you get the message: Customization of guest operating system 'winNetEnterprise' is not supported... and then the deploy from template operation fails.

Explanation

Guest OS Customizaiton only works if VMware Tools is properly installed and working in the VM that was turned into a template. Often, the installation of VMware Tools will not fully succeed; and if it doesn't you won't be able to use the VM (when turned into a template) for new VM deployments

Solution

To fix, please proceed as follows

1. Turn your Template back into a VM (right click > Convert to VM)
2. Open a Console on your VM and power it on
3. Log in to your VM as Administrator
4. On the remote console, click VM > Guest > Install/Upgrade VMware Tools
5. In the VMware Tools installer, click Repair and complete the update
6. Reboot the VM and verify that you have the VMware tools icon on the system tray
7. Do an orderly shut down of the VM, convert it back to a template

You should now be able to continue with lab 7.1