Windows refuses to install WireGuard driver wireguard.inf

[zeroone1zero 0]

v2.20, ipv4, Tap adapter (tunnel adapter would never install)
No recent OS updates.  No active AV.

The vpn worked flawlessly for a long, long time.  5-Star server scores
were bountiful. Then a couple of weeks ago I noticed it bogging down trying to connect to a server and that the server scores were 2-Star at best.

For a week or so there were 2 servers that I could connec to successfully.
Then they too were unreachable.

I have checked and rechecked settings.  Disabled, uninstalled and re-
installed v2.20.  Installed v2.24 and the behaviour was unchanged.  I then
went so far as to restore a 1 year old Macrium image -- to no avail.

Hopefully some kind soul can take a look at the attached log file and help
me sort this out.

TIA

airvpn log.txt

[Staff 10427]

@zeroone1zero

Hello!

Please delete the configuration file C:\Users\User\AppData\Local\Eddie\default.profile while Eddie is NOT running and upgrade again to Eddie 2.24.6, then generate and publish a complete system report according to the instructions available here:
https://airvpn.org/forums/topic/50663-youve-been-asked-for-a-support-filesystem-report-–-heres-what-to-do/

Kind regards
 

[zeroone1zero 0]

Thank you so much!

report attached

report.txt

[Staff 10427]

@zeroone1zero

Hello!

What is the problem? Eddie is ready and waiting for input. Setup seems fine and Eddie can reach the Internet and resolve names. Please generate the system report after the problem has occurred (i.e. log in to AirVPN from Eddie's main window, try a connection to some server, reproduce the problem and only then generate the report).

Kind regards
 

[zeroone1zero 0]

attached is the report including 5 or 6 attempts to connect to a server.

the problem is that no connection is established -- it cycles through the server list ... fails to connect ... and resstarts after " 3 seconds".

Note -- this is with settings at their defaults.  It attempts to use wireguard which won't work since the tunnel adapter is not installed.  As stated, the tunnel adapter refuses to install.  Shall I switch to the Tap adapter and run the report again?

report with wireguard enabled.txt

[Staff 10427]

2 hours ago, zeroone1zero said:

As stated, the tunnel adapter refuses to install. 

Hello!

You need to resolve this problem first because the TAP adapter can't work with WireGuard and you would be forced to set Eddie on using OpenVPN only. Which error messages do you see when the attempted installation fails? Can you also try installing WireGuard, to check whether the installation fails through Eddie only or not? https://www.wireguard.com/install/

Kind regards
 

[zeroone1zero 0]

I attempted to install wireguard again and it failed.
The error msg reads:
unable to create network adapter.
Please consult the log for more information.

(firewall is turned off, btw)

the error log is attached

TIA

wireguard-log-2026-01-15T114849.txt

[Staff 10427]

@zeroone1zero

Hello!

The critical error:
 

Quote

2026-01-14 11:01:16.678594: [TUN] [client_00001] Could not install driver C:\WINDOWS\Temp\bc9cef305d5879810195c44bf89aaa3b7d5361508101d6d9471c2b77b0e92406\wireguard.inf to store: The system cannot find the file specified. (Code 0x00000002)
2026-01-14 11:01:16.683776: [TUN] [client_00001] Unable to create network adapter: Error creating adapter: The system cannot find the file specified.

therefore the problem is not Eddie related.

The system can't find "wireguard.inf" file. It could have been deleted by an antivirus or its access is prevented by Defender's Controlled Folder Access. Please disable any antivirus and also in Windows Defender disable momentarily CFA (Windows security > Ransom protection > Controlled Folder Access) and try again to install.

Please make sure you grant the installer administrator privileges.

If the problem persists, try also this:

• Open Windows Security

• Go to Device security

• Open Core isolation

• Turn Memory integrity OFF

• Reboot the PC and try again to install with administrator privileges

If the installation is successful, remember to re-activate the protections you disabled.

Kind regards
 

[zeroone1zero 0]

As I stated at the get-go, I have no active AV running on my system --  Defender or otherwise.
I do occasional off-line scans with Nod32 & on-line scans with Hitman Pro.

I am still a bit flummoxed the a perfectly working VPN in a system image would not work when
said image is restored.  That's dumbfounding to me. 

Thanks, I do appreciate your time and effort!

[Staff 10427]

15 hours ago, zeroone1zero said:

As I stated at the get-go, I have no active AV running on my system --  Defender or otherwise

Hello!

Yes, and did you turn memory integrity off? If so, and the problem persists, try this from a command prompt with administrator privileges (find the correct path with hash from the WireGuard failed installation log):

pnputil /add-driver "C:\Windows\Temp\<hash>\wireguard.inf" /install

Then send us the whole output.

Kind regards