Tap-windows fails with Error = 0xe0000246 -

[przemyslaw.przytula]

Hi all!

I' like to report problem with adding tap interface at Windows 10 Home x64 PC (1607 v. 10.0.14393 build 14393.693 , sys model UX305UAB). System has 2 months and it is the first, preinstalled OS. No Kasperski or VMware instlled.
I was using:

• openvpn 2.4 instalation pack: ​https://swupdate.openvpn.org/community/releases/openvpn-install-2.4.0-I602.exe
• later tap-windows separate installer: ​https://swupdate.openvpn.org/community/releases/tap-windows-9.21.2.exe

The effect is that:

• Tap-windows instalator during installation shows error with adding tap interface.
• tap-windows installation files are in place,
• driver is loaded into DriverStore?
• Device Manager sees new interface under Netwok Cards but it is "Unknown Device"
• There is no Registry Entry for the interface under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E972-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
• Updating legacy driver with Device Manager shows immediate error that i can't be dane at this time
• setapapi.dev.log shows error (log added at the end of the message): !!! Failed to install device instance 'ROOT\NET\0000'. Error = 0xe0000246

What I've tried already:

• instructions under ​https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/wiki/ManagingWindowsTAPDrivers#Debugginginstallationproblems (BTW one of the links doesn't work: ​https://forums.openvpn.net/post35811.html#p35811)
• deleting user temp files,
• clearing driver in DataStore? with pnputils.exe -d
• disabling Avast antyvirus,
• installing in Safe mode,
• Activating Administrator account and installing using this account,
• Stoping Windows Update service

Checked hemry's problem with the same error:

• Ticket 592 ​https://community.openvpn.net/openvpn/ticket/592
• ​https://forums.openvpn.net/viewtopic.php?t=22888

Microsoft manual at ​https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc756336(v=ws.10).aspx sais:

3758096966 (0xE0000246) Device Installer Not Ready
Cause
A class installer or a co-installer for a device cannot run because a component on which it depends did not run.
Solution
If you have not modified the device driver package yourself, contact the manufacturer of the device or the driver package to obtain an updated driver package.
If you customized the device driver package for your deployment, see the Windows Driver Kit at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=59546 on the Microsoft Web site.

And now trying for a few day's with no result. I'm out of ideas where to go next. Please help.

My setupapi.dev.log:

>>>  [Device Install (UpdateDriverForPlugAndPlayDevices) - tap0901]
>>>  Section start 2017/02/05 10:07:32.948
      cmd: "D:\Program files\TAP-adapter\bin\tapinstall.exe"  install "D:\Program files\TAP-adapter\driver\OemVista.inf" tap0901
     ndv: INF path: D:\Program files\TAP-adapter\driver\OemVista.inf
     ndv: Install flags: 0x00000001
     ndv: {Update Device Driver - ROOT\NET\0000}
     ndv:      Search options: 0x00000080
     ndv:      Searching single INF 'D:\Program files\TAP-adapter\driver\OemVista.inf'
     dvi:      {Build Driver List} 10:07:32.964
     dvi:           Searching for hardware ID(s):
     dvi:                tap0901
     sig:           {_VERIFY_FILE_SIGNATURE} 10:07:32.964
     sig:                Key      = oemvista.inf
     sig:                FilePath = d:\program files\tap-adapter\driver\oemvista.inf
     sig:                Catalog  = d:\program files\tap-adapter\driver\tap0901.cat
!    sig:                Verifying file against specific (valid) catalog failed! (0x800b0109)
     sig:           {_VERIFY_FILE_SIGNATURE exit(0x800b0109)} 10:07:33.011
     sig:           {_VERIFY_FILE_SIGNATURE} 10:07:33.026
     sig:                Key      = oemvista.inf
     sig:                FilePath = d:\program files\tap-adapter\driver\oemvista.inf
     sig:                Catalog  = d:\program files\tap-adapter\driver\tap0901.cat
     sig:                Success: File is signed in Authenticode(tm) catalog.
     sig:           {_VERIFY_FILE_SIGNATURE exit(0xe0000241)} 10:07:33.042
     dvi:           Created Driver Node:
     dvi:                HardwareID   - tap0901
     dvi:                InfName      - d:\program files\tap-adapter\driver\oemvista.inf
     dvi:                DevDesc      - TAP-Windows Adapter V9
     dvi:                Section      - tap0901.ndi
     dvi:                Rank         - 0x00ff0000
     dvi:                Signer Score - Authenticode
     dvi:                DrvDate      - 04/21/2016
     dvi:                Version      - 9.0.0.21
     dvi:      {Build Driver List - exit(0x00000000)} 10:07:33.058
     dvi:      {DIF_SELECTBESTCOMPATDRV} 10:07:33.058
     dvi:           Default installer: Enter 10:07:33.058
     dvi:                {Select Best Driver}
     dvi:                     Class GUID of device changed to: {4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}.
     dvi:                     Selected:
     dvi:                          Description - [TAP-Windows Adapter V9]
     dvi:                          InfFile     - [d:\program files\tap-adapter\driver\oemvista.inf]
     dvi:                          Section     - [tap0901.ndi]
     dvi:                {Select Best Driver - exit(0x00000000)}
     dvi:           Default installer: Exit
     dvi:      {DIF_SELECTBESTCOMPATDRV - exit(0x00000000)} 10:07:33.058
     ndv:      Forcing driver install:
     ndv:           Inf Name       - oemvista.inf
     ndv:           Driver Date    - 04/21/2016
     ndv:           Driver Version - 9.0.0.21
     sto:      {Setup Import Driver Package: d:\program files\tap-adapter\driver\oemvista.inf} 10:07:33.058
     inf:           Provider: TAP-Windows Provider V9
     inf:           Class GUID: {4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}
     inf:           Driver Version: 04/21/2016,9.00.00.21
     inf:           Catalog File: tap0901.cat
     sto:           {Copy Driver Package: d:\program files\tap-adapter\driver\oemvista.inf} 10:07:33.073
     sto:                Driver Package = d:\program files\tap-adapter\driver\oemvista.inf
     sto:                Flags          = 0x00000007
     sto:                Destination    = C:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData\Local\Temp\{4b12c8c7-09d1-ea44-9aeb-aee7ed3d2ba9}
     sto:                Copying driver package files to 'C:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData\Local\Temp\{4b12c8c7-09d1-ea44-9aeb-aee7ed3d2ba9}'.
     flq:                Copying 'd:\program files\tap-adapter\driver\oemvista.inf' to 'C:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData\Local\Temp\{4b12c8c7-09d1-ea44-9aeb-aee7ed3d2ba9}\oemvista.inf'.
     flq:                Copying 'd:\program files\tap-adapter\driver\tap0901.cat' to 'C:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData\Local\Temp\{4b12c8c7-09d1-ea44-9aeb-aee7ed3d2ba9}\tap0901.cat'.
     flq:                Copying 'd:\program files\tap-adapter\driver\tap0901.sys' to 'C:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData\Local\Temp\{4b12c8c7-09d1-ea44-9aeb-aee7ed3d2ba9}\tap0901.sys'.
     sto:           {Copy Driver Package: exit(0x00000000)} 10:07:33.105
     pol:           {Driver package policy check} 10:07:33.120
     pol:           {Driver package policy check - exit(0x00000000)} 10:07:33.120
     sto:           {Stage Driver Package: C:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData\Local\Temp\{4b12c8c7-09d1-ea44-9aeb-aee7ed3d2ba9}\oemvista.inf} 10:07:33.120
     inf:                {Query Configurability: C:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData\Local\Temp\{4b12c8c7-09d1-ea44-9aeb-aee7ed3d2ba9}\oemvista.inf} 10:07:33.120
     inf:                     Driver package 'oemvista.inf' is configurable.
     inf:                {Query Configurability: exit(0x00000000)} 10:07:33.120
     flq:                Copying 'C:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData\Local\Temp\{4b12c8c7-09d1-ea44-9aeb-aee7ed3d2ba9}\oemvista.inf' to 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{6a06f428-c305-1948-ac2a-e837b4dec385}\oemvista.inf'.
     flq:                Copying 'C:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData\Local\Temp\{4b12c8c7-09d1-ea44-9aeb-aee7ed3d2ba9}\tap0901.cat' to 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{6a06f428-c305-1948-ac2a-e837b4dec385}\tap0901.cat'.
     flq:                Copying 'C:\Users\ADMINI~1\AppData\Local\Temp\{4b12c8c7-09d1-ea44-9aeb-aee7ed3d2ba9}\tap0901.sys' to 'C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{6a06f428-c305-1948-ac2a-e837b4dec385}\tap0901.sys'.
     sto:                {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT VALIDATE} 10:07:33.167
     sig:                     {_VERIFY_FILE_SIGNATURE} 10:07:33.183
     sig:                          Key      = oemvista.inf
     sig:                          FilePath = C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{6a06f428-c305-1948-ac2a-e837b4dec385}\oemvista.inf
     sig:                          Catalog  = C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{6a06f428-c305-1948-ac2a-e837b4dec385}\tap0901.cat
!    sig:                          Verifying file against specific (valid) catalog failed! (0x800b0109)
     sig:                     {_VERIFY_FILE_SIGNATURE exit(0x800b0109)} 10:07:33.214
     sig:                     {_VERIFY_FILE_SIGNATURE} 10:07:33.214
     sig:                          Key      = oemvista.inf
     sig:                          FilePath = C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{6a06f428-c305-1948-ac2a-e837b4dec385}\oemvista.inf
     sig:                          Catalog  = C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{6a06f428-c305-1948-ac2a-e837b4dec385}\tap0901.cat
     sig:                          Success: File is signed in Authenticode(tm) catalog.
     sig:                     {_VERIFY_FILE_SIGNATURE exit(0xe0000241)} 10:07:33.245
     sto:                {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT VALIDATE: exit(0x00000000)} 10:07:33.245
     sig:                Signer Score = 0x0F000000
     sig:                Signer Name  = OpenVPN Technologies, Inc.
     sto:                {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT BEGIN} 10:07:33.245
     sto:                {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT BEGIN: exit(0x00000000)} 10:07:33.245
     cpy:                {Copy Directory: C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\Temp\{6a06f428-c305-1948-ac2a-e837b4dec385}} 10:07:33.245
     cpy:                     Target Path = C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\oemvista.inf_amd64_a572b7f20c402d28
     cpy:                {Copy Directory: exit(0x00000000)} 10:07:33.261
     idb:                {Register Driver Package: C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\oemvista.inf_amd64_a572b7f20c402d28\oemvista.inf} 10:07:33.261
     idb:                     Created driver package object 'oemvista.inf_amd64_a572b7f20c402d28' in DRIVERS database node.
     idb:                     Created driver INF file object 'oem8.inf' in DRIVERS database node.
     idb:                     Registered driver package 'oemvista.inf_amd64_a572b7f20c402d28' with 'oem8.inf'.
     idb:                {Register Driver Package: exit(0x00000000)} 10:07:33.261
     idb:                {Publish Driver Package: C:\WINDOWS\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository\oemvista.inf_amd64_a572b7f20c402d28\oemvista.inf} 10:07:33.261
     idb:                     Activating driver package 'oemvista.inf_amd64_a572b7f20c402d28'.
     cpy:                     Published 'oemvista.inf_amd64_a572b7f20c402d28\oemvista.inf' to 'oem8.inf'.
     idb:                     Indexed 3 device IDs for 'oemvista.inf_amd64_a572b7f20c402d28'.
     sto:                     Flushed driver database node 'DRIVERS'. Time = 0 ms
     sto:                     Flushed driver database node 'SYSTEM'. Time = 0 ms
     idb:                {Publish Driver Package: exit(0x00000000)} 10:07:33.277
     sto:                {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT END} 10:07:33.292
     dvi:                     Flushed all driver package files to disk. Time = 0 ms
     sig:                     Installed catalog 'tap0901.cat' as 'oem8.cat'.
     sto:                {DRIVERSTORE IMPORT END: exit(0x00000000)} 10:07:33.308
     sto:           {Stage Driver Package: exit(0x00000000)} 10:07:33.308
     sto:      {Setup Import Driver Package - exit (0x00000000)} 10:07:33.323
     dvi:      Searching for hardware ID(s):
     dvi:           tap0901
     dvi:      Class GUID of device changed to: {4d36e972-e325-11ce-bfc1-08002be10318}.
     ump:      Installation will be processed asynchronously
!!!  ndv:      Device install failed for device.
     ndv:      Installing NULL driver.
     ump:      Installation will be processed asynchronously
     ndv: {Update Device Driver - exit(e0000246)}
!!!  ndv: Failed to install device instance 'ROOT\NET\0000'. Error = 0xe0000246
<<<  Section end 2017/02/05 10:07:33.323
<<<  [Exit status: FAILURE(0xe0000246)]