This is a cross-post but partially because I discovered that it affects Workstation as well and isn't Player specific.
http://communities.vmware.com/thread/432753?tstart=0
For some reason whenever I install either VMWare Player or Workstation it causes the system to fatally crash on the next restart. I am able to recover by doing a system restore however I would like to get it working. The resulting stop code is 0xc000021a which is for a Fatal System Error.
For your reference my hardware configuration.
Base Model System: Alienware M17x R4
Core i7 2.53Ghz
32GB PC1600 Ram
1x 256GB SSD Drive (OCZ Vertex 4 for the curious)
2x 750GB HDD in Raid 0 Configuration (Western Digital Black identicial models)
Windows 8 Pro + MCE license
Intel HD 4000 + AMD 7970m 2GB Enduro Configuration (NOTE: Enduro is disabled so Intel HD 4000 chip is inactive)
Additional Software (As Applicable)
Alienware Command Center
Alienware On-Screen Display
AMD Catalyst
AnyDVD
CloneDVD
DAEMON Tools Pro
EaseUS Partition Master
Intel HD Graphics Driver
Intel Management Engine Components
Intel Rapid Storage Technology
Intel SDK for OpenCL
Norton Internet Security
Oracle VM VirtualBox 4.2.6
Qualcomm Atheros Killer Network Manager
Realtek PCIE Card Reader
Sound Blaster Recon 3Di
ST microelectronics 3 Axis Digitial Acceleromether Solution
Synaptics Pointing Device Driver