SOLVED: Tap driver install fail on Windows XP SP3

[enduro2k4]

Hello,

I'm trying to install OpenVPN on my Win XP Pro SP3 machine, but get an error when installing the TAP driver. I have tried the RunOnce fix and tried with v2.09, v2.20, v2.21 etc (tap0801 or tap0901), but always the same problem. I tried even CoLinux etc, but still same problem. Someone else had the exact same problem on this forum last year, but there was no solution and the thread died out. Here's the link to that thread:

topic7154.html

I tried the tapinstall install command and got the "UpdateDriverForPlugAndPlayDevices failed, GetLastError=2" error as well.

Any solutions please?

Thanks in advance !

[Bebop]

Seems like a rare problem. After looking at the previous thread you linked, I wonder if re-installing Windows would resolve this for you.

If a full re-install is too heavy or risky for you.. maybe Windows in a VirtualBox VM?

[enduro2k4]

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestions. A full Windows re-install would be overkill.

Is there any other tap driver for Windows (not based on the openvpn driver), but something that the openvpn gui can use to connect to a vpn?

Thanks.

[Bebop]

I appreciate that you want to get this working as easily as posible, and with that in mind, my reccomendation is that instead of trying to create a work around for something which is not broken at all (the TAP driver), you should really be trying to fix your OS, which if you don't mind me suggesting -- is broken.

Most people on Google / forums who claim to have resolved their errors for UpdateDriverForPlugAndPlayDevices, claim to have done so by fixing their registry. Some with 3rd party tools, and some by inserting the Windows instalation CD and booting to the recovery screen to choose the repair option.

Not saying its a guarenteed fix, but definitely a priority starting point.

Also, for more info on your error its been suggested to check C:\WINDOWS\setupapi.log --- and if necessary, increase the verbosity of the log.

[enduro2k4]

Hi Bebop,

Thanks for the guidance.
I did use the setupapi.log file to deduce the problem. After some searching around,
I was able to find the solution:

1. Backup the registry (regedit > export)
2. In start>run>cmd>regedit, browse to the following registry entry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network
3. Delete the key called Config
4. In the control panel>system>device manager, right click on the TAP or any other network adapter that has the yellow exclamation and click on update driver. This time it will go ahead and complete successfully !
5. The same fix works even if the situation is:
Properties for any network connection would say that no protocol is installed and would also not allow the user to install any protocol.
6. If the above doesn't yet work, reboot the computer and try again.

Enjoy everyone !

[Bebop]

Awesome work. And thank you for sharing the solution too ^^

[quietstorm]

Enduro2k4, Thanks for the hint, but... still doesn't work for me!
In setupapi.log I only can see the tap removal, that ends successfully, so I can't figure out what's wrong in there...
This is my installation procedure:

1. I try installing OpenVPN and the tap node is created succesfully, but the driver is not assigned, giving a fail result 2. That results in having an "Unknown device" under "Network cards" without driver and without an exclamation mark. At this moment I still can remove the tap node or the whole OpenVPN with no problems.

2. Pressing "Update Driver" button in the properties of the unknown device does nothing so, following your previous advice, I tried to delete the config key then I reboot.
Note: the RunOnce key is ok, created and with full access to users.

3. After the reboot, in the hardware profile I see the exclamation mark, but still no driver nor automatic hardware recognition. "Update Driver" button still doesn't work and from this moment on, I can't remove manually or automatically the tap node. The only way to get back is to restore a previous restore point.

I know that this is a rare problem, and in my case too a full reinstall of my OS would be a real overkill...

Any other advice, guys?

Thanks in advance, bye!

Fabrizio

[unspokenhermit]

I have been able to resolve this issue many ways, but I would try this first.

With openVPN installed go to Start > All Programs > OpenVPN > Utilities > Delete ALL TAP-32 virtual Ethernet adapters (do it as administrator).
Reboot.
Go back to the directory, and Install a new TAP virtual adapter and try again.

Hope that works.
___________________

[maxi4]

Thanks a lot, guys!