Windivert Driver Cannot Be Installed You Must Restart Your Computer Top !!link!!

To test if this is the issue, you can temporarily boot Windows into a mode that ignores driver signatures:

Now that we've discussed the causes, let's move on to the solutions. Follow these step-by-step guides to resolve the error:

Open File Explorer and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers . Look for any file named WinDivert.sys or WinDivert64.sys .

Run the software as :

Gather logs: C:\Windows\INF\setupapi.dev.log and C:\Windows\System32\LogFiles\Scm .

Verify that WinDivert.dll , WinDivert64.sys (or WinDivert32.sys ), and WinDivert.inf are all in the same directory .

To resolve the "WinDivert driver cannot be installed" error without a full restart, you can manually force the removal of old service handles and registry entries that are blocking the new installation. 1. Force Stop and Delete the Service To test if this is the issue, you

Ensure that you're running the WinDivert driver installation package with administrative privileges:

If you're seeing the "WinDivert driver cannot be installed, you must restart your computer" message on repeat, you’re likely stuck in a "zombie service" loop. This driver, used by tools like GoodbyeDPI or FakeNet-NG , often fails because an older version didn't clean up after itself or Windows Security thinks it’s a threat. 1. The "Clean Slate" Method (Admin Prompt)

Manually terminating and purging the active driver service forces Windows to register a clean state upon launching your application again. Run the software as : Gather logs: C:\Windows\INF\setupapi

If you are using GoodbyeDPI , users have found success by copying WinDivert64.sys directly into the C:\Windows\System32 directory to bypass loading issues, though this should be a last resort. WinDivert not working on Windows 10 20H2 #253 - GitHub

By systematically working through these steps, you will clear the driver conflict and get your network application running smoothly without getting stuck in an infinite restart loop.