Laptop won't download VPN

TechieChick

Hi! I've just signed up to PIA VPN. My laptop downloads it but when i try to run it it tells me to reinstall the tap driver which I've tried 3 times already. I tried to do this with my avg etc turned off and it still does it. It's becoming very frustrating!!! Can you give me any tips?

I have windows 10

HQ7274

Hi I have not had any experience with this particular issue. Try going into device manager and uninstalling the TAP driver all together. Then install PIA. If this does not work try uninstalling AVG and running the PIA setup again.

Omnibus_IV

I have had that happen to me on a few occasions. The fix I found was to uninstall the entire package. This means to remove all folders and files of the PIA manager. Do the uninstall from the Programs and Features and then go to each folder and delete it. Also check to see if you happen to have TAP still installed on your Network Card. If so, delete it. Check your /system32/drivers for the tap0901.sys driver and delete it.

After you do this, run the PIA app again and make sure you do so as Administrator.

Max-P

If reinstalling PIA as suggested doesn't help, I would also possibly recommend trying to install the TAP driver directly from OpenVPN (which I think is slightly newer): https://swupdate.openvpn.org/community/releases/tap-windows-9.21.2.exe

It may also be necessary to add the following exceptions to AVG to avoid it messing with PIA:

- C:\Program Files\pia_manager\openVPN.exe

- C:\Program Files\pia_manager\pia_manager.exe

- C:\Program Files\pia_manager\tapinstall.exe

- C:\Program Files\pia_manager\installer_win.exe

- C:\Program Files\pia_manager\pia-openvpn.dll

- C:\Program files\pia_manager\pia_tray_bin\nw-win\pia_nw.exe

- C:\Windows\system32\DRIVERS\tap0901.sys

TechieChick

Omnibus_IV said:

I have had that happen to me on a few occasions. The fix I found was to uninstall the entire package. This means to remove all folders and files of the PIA manager. Do the uninstall from the Programs and Features and then go to each folder and delete it. Also check to see if you happen to have TAP still installed on your Network Card. If so, delete it. Check your /system32/drivers for the tap0901.sys driver and delete it.

After you do this, run the PIA app again and make sure you do so as Administrator.

OK Thanks.

How do I access my network card / system32 etc? I tried to do a search on my system and it just send me to the internet?

Also, how do I make sure I'm running as administrator?

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TechieChick

Thanks for all your answers everyone!

Omnibus_IV

To get to the drivers...
(from an Explorer window, not your browser) C:\Windows\System32\drivers

To run as administrator, right-click on the PIA install app and select Run as Administrator.

To get to your NIC cards...
Control Panel
Network and Sharing Center
Change Adapter Settings (on left hand side)