boot and log in as root
check for the kernel version in a terminal
uname -r
which in this case is: 2.6.18-4-486 (match the headers package and the sym link, see below)
go online in host system
Synaptic
change repositories from cdrom to ftp.debian.org and security.debian.org
reload
mark packages for install:
gcc-4.1
linux-headers-2.6.18-4-486
apply
go offline in host system

install VMwaretools Tools e.x.p-42757
- point the cdrom to the external linux.iso file (from a VMware 6 beta installation, 20.3.07)
- copy the VMwareTools-e.x.p-42757.tar.gz file to the /tmp and extract it there
- delete the .tar.gz file
- cd /tmp/vmware-tools-distrib
- make a symlink:
ln -s /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.18-4-486 /usr/src/linux
- change the gcc version to use:
export CC=/usr/bin/gcc-4.1
- start the installer with ./vmware-install.pl
accept everything with
- video resolution: choose 3 instead of 2 (1024*768)
- log out and in again to activate XOrg changes

Read more: http://feeds.dzone.com/~r/dzone/snippets/~3/9eA1f38TEkQ/11935