1} May have missed itbut what is the 64-bit Linux host?
2) You would need to search but you can download tools from a VMware Server as an ISO. Perhaps somebody can tell you where to go from there after you mount the ISO in the guestg - I've never needed to do it.
3) As you have found out it not mandatory to update VMware tools and you can turn off message from Eidit -> Peferences ->. Update You may not wishi to update the tools to the WS 9 version as they are, in my oinion worse since there is no GUI.
4) You are lucky the automatic update to WS 9 succeeded. The VMware servers are unreliable if you upldate within tghe plrogram. an,d thke mesagesyou get are common Try downloadinig the enirte bundle if you needeed to do an upgrade again (hoepfully yolu won't)