Installing TAP driver on Windows x64 fails [solved]

[sjoller]

I'm having trouble installing OpenVPN - the TAP driver simply refuses to install.

I've tried 5 different versions of the installer - including v2.1 RC19 which, according to a Google search, seems to be everyones solution.

I've tried v2.1.3, which supposedly should have the driver signing solved, v2.1.1, v2.1.4 and even v2.2 beta5 - all run as administrator.

I've tried running the installers in compability mode set to Vista, aswell.

I've tried downloading the x64 driver (tap0801), from openvpn.se, and installing it manually (from a dos prompt, run as administrator, from a destination folder that isn't named with troublesome characters like space), and between the installs, i've even made sure to uninstall the "unknown" TAP network adaptor, the installations leaves behind.

I've tried extracting the driver (tap0901) from the installer and manually install it, using same procedure as above.

... I'm fresh out of ideas on how to get OpenVPN running on Windows 7 Ultimate x64, please help.

Regards
Mads Jensen

[gladiatr72]

Hello,

I'm not a Windows Guy(tm), but what sort of errors are being emitted when the installation fails?

After the error, is there anything left in the installation target directory?

Check if the following path exists and contains any files: (I think) C:\program files (x86)\openvpn\bin

Specifically, I'm looking for the tapinstall.exe binary. If it doesn't it might be getting cleaned up if you exit the installer. If this is the case, try running the installation again but not exiting the installer after it pukes.

If you can get an admin CLI with the tapinstall binary present, from openvpn\bin, run the following command and post the output:

tapinstall install ..\driver\oemwin2k.inf tap0901

Regards,
Stephen

[sjoller]

Hi gladiatr72,

Thanks for replying.

After a looong time trying to install the TAP driver, the installation pops an error message saying that "An error occured installing the TAP device driver". After accepting this, the installation finishes withour further errors.

This is what is logged:

Code: Select all

Previous Service REMOVE (if exists)
Output folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenVPN\bin
Extract: openvpn.exe... 100%
Output folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenVPN\bin
Extract: openvpn-gui-1.0.3.exe... 100%
Output folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenVPN\easy-rsa
Extract: openssl.cnf.sample... 100%
Extract: vars.bat.sample... 100%
Extract: init-config.bat... 100%
Extract: README.txt... 100%
Extract: build-ca.bat... 100%
Extract: build-dh.bat... 100%
Extract: build-key-server.bat... 100%
Extract: build-key.bat... 100%
Extract: build-key-pkcs12.bat... 100%
Extract: clean-all.bat... 100%
Extract: index.txt.start
Extract: revoke-full.bat... 100%
Extract: serial.start
Output folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenVPN\bin
Extract: openvpnserv.exe... 100%
Output folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenVPN\config
Output folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenVPN\sample-config
Extract: sample.ovpn... 100%
Extract: client.ovpn... 100%
Extract: server.ovpn... 100%
Create folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenVPN\log
Output folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenVPN\bin
Extract: libeay32.dll... 100%
Extract: libssl32.dll... 100%
Output folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenVPN\bin
Extract: openssl.exe... 100%
Output folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenVPN\bin
Extract: libpkcs11-helper-1.dll... 100%
We are running on a 64-bit system.
Output folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenVPN\bin
Extract: tapinstall.exe... 100%
Output folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenVPN\driver
Extract: OemWin2k.inf... 100%
Extract: tap0901.cat... 100%
Extract: tap0901.sys... 100%
Create folder: C:\Users\Mads\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\OpenVPN
Create folder: C:\Users\Mads\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\OpenVPN\Documentation
Create shortcut: C:\Users\Mads\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\OpenVPN\Uninstall OpenVPN.lnk
Output folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenVPN
Extract: INSTALL-win32.txt... 100%
Extract: license.txt... 100%
Extract: icon.ico... 100%
tapinstall hwids returned: 0
TAP REMOVE OLD TAP
No devices were removed.
tapinstall remove TAP0801 returned: 0
TAP INSTALL (tap0901)
Device node created. Install is complete when drivers are installed...
Updating drivers for tap0901 from C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenVPN\driver\OemWin2k.inf.
UpdateDriverForPlugAndPlayDevices failed, GetLastError=32
tapinstall.exe failed.
tapinstall install returned: 2
tapinstall cumulative status: 2
Service INSTALL
OpenVPN Service installed.
Create folder: C:\Users\Mads\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\OpenVPN\Utilities
Create folder: C:\Users\Mads\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\OpenVPN\Shortcuts
Create shortcut: C:\Users\Mads\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\OpenVPN\OpenVPN GUI.lnk
Create shortcut: C:\Users\Mads\Desktop\OpenVPN GUI.lnk
Create shortcut: C:\Users\Mads\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\OpenVPN\Utilities\Add a new TAP virtual ethernet adapter.lnk
Create shortcut: C:\Users\Mads\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\OpenVPN\Utilities\Delete ALL TAP virtual ethernet adapters.lnk
Create shortcut: C:\Users\Mads\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\OpenVPN\Shortcuts\OpenVPN configuration file directory.lnk
Create shortcut: C:\Users\Mads\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\OpenVPN\Shortcuts\OpenVPN log file directory.lnk
Create shortcut: C:\Users\Mads\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\OpenVPN\Shortcuts\OpenVPN Sample Configuration Files.lnk
Create shortcut: C:\Users\Mads\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\OpenVPN\Utilities\Generate a static OpenVPN key.lnk
Created uninstaller: C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenVPN\Uninstall.exe
Completed

As you might have guessed from above, everything besides the driver is installed as it should. Manually running the tabinstall as you describe, gives me yet another "Unknown device" in Network adapters, but fails.

I sometimes find that Windows have a hard time accepting paths containing spaces (when installing from the DOS prompt), which is why I initially tried to place the driver files in a properly named folder, at the very root of my system drive and install it manually from there - but to no avail.

Today, I tried to install v2.1.4 on a Windows 7 x64 box at work, and it installed flawlessly. The two boxes have pretty much the same software on them, but varies in hardware. I don't think it's a hardware problem, so the only major difference I can think of, is that I'm running Ultimate at home, and the work box has a OEM Home Premium.

Regards
Mads Jensen

[sjoller]

Update...

I tried to update the driver using Windows device manager, and it told me that the driver file was locked due to being used by another process. Googling for a solution to this problem yielded no solution (quelle surprise), but the the universal Windows problem fixer solution (A.K.A. reboot) released the lock on the file, and I was then able to install the driver with success...

I feel a little silly for not trying this in the first place, but atleast thing are working for me again.

Regards
Mads Jensen.

[Goykie]

The new OpenVPN versions work on 64 bit!!!

Uninstall all Open VPN. Restart PC. Follow link http://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/downloads.html and install the newest version. (I installed version 2.1.4 and it works)

Btw when you uninstall you don't have to delete your config folders.

[unkim]

i have the same problem of the tap adapter in win7.
but!
i have 2 computers both with win7 (one is 100%legal bought in europe, and the other one is bought is china so who knows...)
curiously, i dont have any problem installing the adapter on the chinese one, but i have it in the legal one...
so must to be a software issue right?
my laptop asus A53S is the one which dont allow me to install the adapter.

thanks in advance!

ps: why the thread shows solved??

[tazz602]

I don't know why this was marked as solved because no one answered the question.

The issue is simple - you need to run the Add TAP as Administrator - right click on the menu option and select "Run as Administrator" and it should work.

[razvezlo]

maybe - will be fixed / changed in further releases, but - for now:

Recently tried "openvpn-install-2.3_rc2-I001-x86_64" ("release candidate" for x64 platforms); OpenVPN installer do NOT created <openvpn-install-dir>\bin\tapinstall.exe; but it created additional folder in "Program Files" - Program Files\TAP-Windows (if NOT - unpack the installer package with {7-zip}, go to unpacked "$temp" folder and run tap-windows.exe; unfortunately, no any shortcuts are created in your system to any of the tools/files in this folder). To add another virtual TAP-adapter - go to "\Program Files\TAP-Windows\bin" and run ("as administrator" !!!) the file named addtap.bat