why install version 1 when version 2 has been out for awhile
second, i have also had problems in installing vmware, but i have been practicing on another linux version for 64 bit memory
installing vmware server is so wishy washy that it drives me crazy and you will get all kinds of wrong instructions everywhere on the internet or at least instructions that pertain to your individual linux kernel.
I suggest using a test machine to install vmware server then once you have that going then duplicate what you have done on your production machine.
I am a newbie to vmware server by i have used other virtual machines for years.
What i am learning is that you have to pay great attention to any console text messages while installing vmware server.
Also i have had success sometimes in just rerunning the "vmware-config.pl" setup program.
I personally think that in setting up vmware server there is no silver bullet, you have to endure the pains of installation until you get it write and that may will involve making changes to scripts. Basically making jabs at changing code until it installs.
Once you get everything right, just make a tar file from your install directory and transfer that to your working computer using an exact directory structure using the scp command or whatever way you can do so then untar the your transferred file.
After fighting wmware server installs, i would never, i repeat NEVER install vmware on a production server until you have perfected it on a practice server.
What would be best is that somebody could tar the wmware server install on a working machine and you place that on a practice server before you tried it on your production server.