After upgrading to Windows 8.1, things were working fine until about 100+ updates came through... and now these TAP-Windows Adapter V9 and TAP-Win32 Adapter OAS drivers are installing over and over again. I uninstall the drivers and they come back, I disable them, and they re-enable themselves. I have looked up answers to this issue, and I do not use a VPN...so none of that applies to me.

The unfortunate part is that I get constant interruptions with my internet and don't even want to touch my laptop hardly anymore because of this...but I need to because I am trying to start a business and get back into school. The only way I can get the internet to work again is to disable the drivers, and troubleshoot my wireless adapter. It renews the wireless adapter, the internet works for anywhere between one minute to an hour before I have to troubleshoot again.

HELP?? How to I block those drivers? There needs to be a Microsoft Removal Tool and a major update...

I tried to add a screenshot, but it took so long to verify me that I had already deleted it after 4 days.

• Edited by JSisthe1 Sunday, September 14, 2014 8:29 AM

Upon further inspection, I found that the only two items that were installed on my Wi-Fi connection was Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) and Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv6) ... still looking for IPv5. JK. :D

I went through removing all the TAP drivers, and then I used cmd.exe ran as an administrator:
netsh winsock reset
netsh winsock reset catalog
netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt
ipconfig /flushdns

After that, I installed the following to my Wi-Fi connection:
Client for Microsoft Networks
QoS Packet Scheduler
File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
Link-Layer Topology Discovery Responder
Link-Layer Topology Discovery Mapper I/O Driver

I have restarted my computer, and seemingly things are working better... I certainly hope it stays this way. If it doesn't keep the TAP drivers away, does anyone have a solution I have not tried?

Please, and thank you? :)

• Edited by JSisthe1 Wednesday, September 10, 2014 12:11 PM
• Marked as answer by JSisthe1 Wednesday, September 10, 2014 12:11 PM
• Unmarked as answer by JSisthe1 Friday, September 12, 2014 1:25 PM

Finally someone who have the same problem as me. But I have some bad news, in my case, I'm seeing unknown access to many accounts of my, even some failed money transaction from my paypal (thank god I have not connected my credit card). So there's a high chance that someone connected to your laptop and is stealin infomation from you. Best check all your accounts, especially anything to do with identity or money.

As to getting rid of this annoying Tap Adapter V9 connection, I've tried many things, even deleting the driver from my laptop WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\tap0901.sys to no avail, it just keep appearing. Now I just open the adapter properties and untick all IPv4, IPv6... and for now it seems to work, no connection even when I enable the adapter, will get back to you if anything happens. I hope you will share your methods with me if you can remove this permanently.

Well I've got no unknown accesses to any of my accounts, and don't really have anything for anyone to get into. Plus I'm running AVG and Spybot: Search and Destroy. Nothing had been detected.

But nevertheless, if someone is trying to access my computer... it's their loss since I can't access the internet when that adapter is installed and enabled. This morning one of the TAP-Windows Adapter V9 drivers had installed itself... is there absolutely no one at Microsoft that knows what's going on here? This is absolutely ridiculous.

I've decided to delete WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\tap0901.sys and replace it with a blank file to try to immunize it somehow. I will make updates about if it works or not.

• Edited by JSisthe1 Friday, September 12, 2014 4:44 PM

My method failed, a new adapter appears name Tap-Windows Adapter V9 #2 appear under the original one, so I just uninstall both driver from device manager. It'll be back but I just don't want to deal with 2+ of them. How are you doing on your end?

It seems to work till now. I hope it stays this ways. If you get any update, please share. Thanks.

Well, for a while this worked... I have been uninstalling things I don't need and hoping one of them could be the culprit, and to no avail. The driver just now reinstalled itself and was sitting there like a frog on a log waiting for a fly. Grrr. I think I might just uninstall and go back to Windows 7 or even XP... at least I didn't have problems like I do with Windows 8. This is truly ridiculous, and still no one from Microsoft has been here for help or commentary. Not sure why I expected any more.

• Edited by JSisthe1 Sunday, September 14, 2014 8:28 AM

Funny thing, adter I remove the 2 Tap adapters, nothing seems to be popping up, I don't know if it have anything to do with Microsoft update. It's been a few days now, still a liitle early to keep my hope up but I thought I'd keep you guys updated about it.

BTW, AliAwan, are you having the same problem as us?

Well, I've uninstalled anything and everything that could have possibly caused this...and then just now it came back again. I personally give up. lol. At least until Microsoft comes up with something to disable it...

I do have to ask though, what do you guys use to connect to the internet...maybe that's where the problem is? I have Comcast ISP with their built-in wireless. I haven't connected to anything but a wireless connection with this computer.

Sorry, I don't live in the States, my ISP is a military owned company in my country. So I doubt it's the ISP.

As to method of connection, my laptop is used mixed both with wired and wireless, and I've seen the thing pop up both times, so I'm not sure, could be me switching wired and wireless without checking.

On a side note, still haven't seen it pop up, been a few days now. Maybe the last Microsoft update fixed it?

Yes, LeonardoTran, I'm facing the same problem. No permanent solution so far, please post if you find any. Thanks.

Ok it's more than a week now and I'm not seeing any Tap-adapter, hopefully it will work for you guys too: untick all in IPv4 and IPv6, if another Tap appear, uninstall them both from device manager.

• Marked as answer by Kate LiMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Friday, October 10, 2014 5:49 AM

i disabled it. go to your device manager and check under connections you will see that tap driver then disable it,or uninstall it

• Edited by nyamande Friday, October 03, 2014 10:58 AM
• Marked as answer by Kate LiMicrosoft contingent staff, Moderator Friday, October 10, 2014 5:49 AM

I do what this says, I think I have uninstalled the driver 20 times now, It just keeps comming back. so how can you have this as a sulution, you shouldn't have to keep uninstalling it everytime it shows up, then it's no way better then a spam in a mailbox.

It's not a solution. I untick all in IPv4 and IPv6 and disable all tap-adapters in ncpa.cpl. Then i uninstall all tap-adapters in devmgmt.msc. Over time (about a week or month) they coming back, it's like clean spam folder in my e-mail box.

One time i've used OpenVPN client, but it was removed a long time ago.

Is deleting WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\tap0901.sys and replacing it with a blank file helpful? Somebody testing it or this file come back again?

P.S. sorry for my english.

• Edited by TalaMax Friday, November 28, 2014 6:46 AM
• Proposed as answer by dhabsot Sunday, August 02, 2015 3:04 PM
• Unproposed as answer by dhabsot Sunday, August 02, 2015 3:04 PM

It's not a solution. I untick all in IPv4 and IPv6 and disable all tap-adapters in ncpa.cpl. Then i uninstall all tap-adapters in devmgmt.msc. Over time (about a week or month) they coming back, it's like clean spam folder in my e-mail box.

One time i've used OpenVPN client, but it was removed a long time ago.

Is deleting WINDOWS\System32\DRIVERS\tap0901.sys and replacing it with a blank file helpful? Somebody testing it or this file come back again?

P.S. sorry for my english.

• Edited by TalaMax Friday, November 28, 2014 6:46 AM

The Tap-Win32 Adapter is a virtual network interface needed on your PC to allow the It may happen that the TAP-Win32 adapter cannot be used by the eCatcher software.
The Probably the Tap-Win32 adapter could not be added on your PC during the eCatcher installation process or an other To solve the problem, add the Tap-Win32 adapter manually on your PC as described here under:

eCatcher version 3.0 (Free+ and Pro accounts)

To install the TAP-Win32 adapter, go on the directory %INSTALL_DIR% \Talk2mVpnService\Drivers\ (by default, it should be "C:\Program Files\eCatcher-Talk2M\Talk2mVpnService\Drivers\") and click on the addtap.bat command file.

A DOS When installation finished, the DOS window will close automatically.
You should now be able to see the Tap-Win32 adapter V9 in the "Network Connection" window of your PC:

Attention: The eCatcher application must be restarted to take the modification into account.

eCatcher version 2.0 (Free legacy accounts)

To install the TAP-Win32 adapter, go on the C:\A DOS Once the installation finished, you should be able to see the Tap-Win32 V8 adapter in the "Network Connection" window of your PC.

On Manual Tap-Win32 installation.

We need to UNINSTALL this interface. It install themself. No eCatchers was used.

hi 

Install a new Version of openvpn 

run cmd.exe as Admin

cd C:\Program Files\TAP-Windows\bin

deltapall.bat

Happy new Year

• Proposed as answer by TalaMax Wednesday, January 21, 2015 6:16 AM

Hi, I have the same problem....I saw this VPN devises and catch someone copying a file from my PC(I was working normally and next second a little window copying a file from my docs...was just a second)

I'm trying this.... delete any file "tap0901", on safe mode also delete the folder named "vpnplugins" is in "Windows folder"(I'm not sure about this but since I'm not using VPN not need it(better safe than worry)).

I ran a search on all my PC looking for "tap0901" and I found a folder on "C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository" with 4 or 5 files related to "tap0901"....Delete.

THE F*** TAP-Windows Adapter V9 is GONE!

NOTE: Norton Scan didn't see any problem but there is a big one. Disable and uninstall the devise doesn't work  you need to delete any little shit related to "tap0901".

NOTE 2: When U make the Search for "tap0901" files be sure than check the Advance options : File Contents, System Files, Zipped (Compressed) folders... on view also check "hidden items"

• Edited by jckaboom Saturday, January 10, 2015 7:48 PM
• Proposed as answer by jckaboom Saturday, January 10, 2015 7:49 PM

En mi caso Deshabilito La Conexin desde el Centro de Redes y Recursos Compartidos, abro LUEGO el Administrador de Dispositivos, desinstalo la conexin abriendo con el botn secundario cuadro de dialogo y marcando la opcin de desinstalar el controlador del dispositivo y... Nada, al tiempo aparece de la misma forma, SE LLAMA BULLYING INFORMATICO Y SI LOS DE ARRIBA DESEAN DESAPARECE DE LA NADA O PARECE CUANDO TE DESCUIDAS JA! Te acostumbras a manejarte como un deformado jeje!

I actually had the same problem, I'm looking for a solution since 2014 september.
And now 4 month later, maybe has come a genius !

Because since september, I've deleted around 40 "local network connection", then I give up. This shit is just like rabbits, they grow faster and faster. I currently have 66 unwanted "local network connection" (connexion au rseau local, because I'm french), with about a half of "TAP Windows adapter V9" and the other half "TAP Win32 Adapter OAS".

Ok, so I deleted both "tap0901 and "tapoas" related files, and I hope it will work.

If any of you wants free connections, I've a lot to give :)

(If this works, I will send you chocolate !)

• Edited by Hello Sylvain Thursday, January 15, 2015 4:10 PM Order of lines

Hi, I don't think its gone dude please check your device manager (press view show hidden devices). I think their will be an unknown adapter in your network subtree.

Please Reply Regards HRida.

For now i have the solution, i guess...

Start windows in safe mode --> than delete the tap adapters from device manager --> show hidden files, go to this computer --> Search for *tap0901* (1 .sys file 2 dll files) delete these 3 files --> use regedit --> local machine -->system --> currentcontrolset --> services --> delete the whole folder tap0901

This should do the job

for the OAS adapter you need to delete your vpn client if using one....

It's solution. Maybe, first installation OpenVPN was produced with errors. Thank you. Truly - the right decision is the easiest.

@Bungelaar

I have never installed a VPN client (I thought). 

I tried your solution, but while researching for "tap0901" and "tapoas" in regedit, I found these two key :

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\PnpLockdownFiles\%SystemRoot%/System32/drivers/tapoas.sys

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Setup\PnpLockdownFiles\%SystemRoot%/System32/drivers/tap0901.sys

As they were protected, I modified security authorisations, and finally deleted them.

And just after this, my WiFi connection showed "connected" but I was unable to load any page.

And in the notification box, there was a message I've never seen before : AVAST VPN SecureLine : Deconnect (Disconnected). So in fact, do I have a VPN Client ? I don't think because it's not a free option for AVAST Antivirus. Do you think it is the cause of problems ?

I'm currently using my phone 4g->wifi connection sharing with my computer, and it works.
Because even after restarting the computer, the normal WiFi Internet is still unable to load anything (but still shows it is connected).

EDIT : A few minutes after, the Internet was working, but my TAP0901'friend is still here, but TAPOAS has gone.

• Edited by Hello Sylvain Sunday, January 25, 2015 5:34 PM Modification

Search your whole directory for tap09, it still has 2 more DLL files (show hidden files), AVAST VPN secureline will bring the aos adapter you deleted now. 

All the items need to be deleted in safe mode(without any options in safe mode.

register tap adapter

whole directory(`s) tap0901

device manager deinstall all tap adapters/aos adapter

you can check your avast install by programms and software, choose avast, than choose change. this should let you see all the installed components of avast.

If any questions just ask!

google chrome adds the adapter for profile syncing, as in favorites , settings etc 

I think due to this each update recreates the adapter, but i'm have not confirmed this

ok guys just want to say all you guys who have tap32 adaptors returning stop using bit torrent or similar clients. I got this slight ipv9 problem from running wampserver because I couldn't get localhost sorted I tinkered a bit all I do is right click open network and sharing connections in the bottom right corner of desktop, then click change adapter settings right click the tap32 connection and disable, make sure it says network cable unplugged, then right click your normal WiFi connection and select connect, then close. Right click network sharing centre again then select advanced sharing settings scroll down and expand ' Guest or Public ' in network discovery select turn off. OK now open your web browser in my ase internet explorer select tools, then  internet options, select connections tab then LAN Settings tick automatically detect settings, making sure proxy server is unticked. ok mine is not to remove it but to stop it interfereing with your normal connection. right click TAP32 adapter again and select properties, untick client for MICROSOFT networks TCP/IPv6 and TCP/IPv4. In the sharing tab select allow other network users to connect through this computers internet connection this lets you untick the allow other network users to control or disable the shared internet connection now untick both select ok to close no one can use this connection until you change it back I haven't had a dropped connection from my usual wifi connection since

This is easy no need to remove anything, in win 8, 8.1 nor 10 TP,

u guys just need to uninstall the device driver thru device manager and refresh it.after that go to search box and type in change device installation setting, if found just click it. Select "No, let me choose what to do", Select "never install driver from Windows Update." and tick "Automatically get the device apps and info provided by your device manufacturer." and click save changes. then restart your computer .. that shud do it . :)

I deleted all of the TAP adapters; then went to root of Windows 8.1 and ran a search for tap0901 and deleted all that I found.  Then went to registry and did the same.  Went to command prompt as administrator and ran the following.

netsh winsock reset
netsh winsock reset catalog
netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt
ipconfig /flushdns

I deleted all of the TAP adapters; then went to root of Windows 8.1 and ran a search for tap0901 and deleted all that I found.  Then went to registry and did the same.  Went to command prompt as administrator and ran the following.

netsh winsock reset
netsh winsock reset catalog
netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt
ipconfig /flushdns

yes you're right. the best solution. Thank u so much..

Hi everyone, I have same problem with win tap oas e win tap v9, if I try to delete file in C or key and values in Windows Regedit, OS tells me that I need SYSTEM Authorization. So I tried to delete these with third part application, It seems to work but when I turn on the PC again, I find again same file in C and same values and keys in regedit. Anyone can help me?

Hi everyone, I have same problem with win tap oas e win tap v9, if I try to delete file in C or key and values in Windows Regedit, OS tells me that I need SYSTEM Authorization. So I tried to delete these with third part application, It seems to work but when I turn on the PC again, I find again same file in C and same values and keys in regedit. Anyone can help me?

• Proposed as answer by Im2OldFTS 3 hours 51 minutes ago
• Unproposed as answer by Im2OldFTS 3 hours 51 minutes ago

Hi everyone, I have same problem with win tap oas e win tap v9, if I try to delete file in C or key and values in Windows Regedit, OS tells me that I need SYSTEM Authorization. So I tried to delete these with third part application, It seems to work but when I turn on the PC again, I find again same file in C and same values and keys in regedit. Anyone can help me?

• Proposed as answer by Im2OldFTS Thursday, August 13, 2015 3:32 AM
• Unproposed as answer by Im2OldFTS Thursday, August 13, 2015 3:32 AM

I've been dealing with this from the start of Windows 8 just like a lot of others. Finally today on my 2008 r2 server I saw a firewall log as to what time the TAP-Windows Adapter V9 was installed and Uninstalled. 

Installed on 8/10/2015 at 11:36 am 

Uninstalled on 08/10/2015 at 11:36 am

I looked at the Event Viewer under Windows and system. I saw the following.

08/10/2015 11:35 am - The Windows Update service entered the running state.

08/10/2015 11:36 - The Software Protection service entered the running state.

08/10/2015 11:36 - The Device Install Service service entered the running state.

08/10/2015 11:36 - Driver Management has concluded the process to add Service tap0901 for Device Instance ID ROOT\NET\0000 with the following status: 0. ( this is the event in which the adapter was installed.)

08/10/2015 11:36 - The Device Setup Manager service entered the running state.

08/10/2015 11:36 - Driver Management concluded the process to install driver oemwin2k.inf_amd64_5a1fec2fbbccefcc\oemwin2k.inf for Device Instance ID ROOT\NET\0000 with the following status: 0x0. ( WTF is this? I don't know yet.)

08/10/2015 11:37 - The Software Protection service entered the stopped state.

Anyway, I have tried disabling the Device Setup Manager and Device Install service services to see if this resolves the issue. Any feedback is welcome.

As far as I know these services do the following.

Device Setup Manager - Goes out and pings windows update every night to see if any devices that are installed and set up to use windows up date to update drivers. 

Device Install - Enables a computer to recognize and adapt to hardware changes with little or no user input. Stopping or disabling this service will result in system instability. (We'll see I imagine it really might cause instability but we are going to try it.

No VPN used and I have tried removing everything non-essential.

• Edited by Im2OldFTS 3 hours 33 minutes ago addition

I've been dealing with this from the start of Windows 8 just like a lot of others. Finally today on my 2008 r2 server I saw a firewall log as to what time the TAP-Windows Adapter V9 was installed and Uninstalled. 

Installed on 8/10/2015 at 11:36 am 

Uninstalled on 08/10/2015 at 11:36 am

I looked at the Event Viewer under Windows and system. I saw the following.

08/10/2015 11:35 am - The Windows Update service entered the running state.

08/10/2015 11:36 - The Software Protection service entered the running state.

08/10/2015 11:36 - The Device Install Service service entered the running state.

08/10/2015 11:36 - Driver Management has concluded the process to add Service tap0901 for Device Instance ID ROOT\NET\0000 with the following status: 0. ( this is the event in which the adapter was installed.)

08/10/2015 11:36 - The Device Setup Manager service entered the running state.

08/10/2015 11:36 - Driver Management concluded the process to install driver oemwin2k.inf_amd64_5a1fec2fbbccefcc\oemwin2k.inf for Device Instance ID ROOT\NET\0000 with the following status: 0x0. ( WTF is this? I don't know yet.)

08/10/2015 11:37 - The Software Protection service entered the stopped state.

Anyway, I have tried disabling the Device Setup Manager and Device Install service services to see if this resolves the issue. Any feedback is welcome.

As far as I know these services do the following.

Device Setup Manager - Goes out and pings windows update every night to see if any devices that are installed and set up to use windows up date to update drivers. 

Device Install - Enables a computer to recognize and adapt to hardware changes with little or no user input. Stopping or disabling this service will result in system instability. (We'll see I imagine it really might cause instability but we are going to try it.

No VPN used and I have tried removing everything non-essential.

• Edited by Im2OldFTS Thursday, August 13, 2015 3:51 AM addition

Go to C:\program files there should be a "TAP Windows" folder, open and uninstall the VPN Adapter, all is done

this issue mostly happens because of a VPN app installation

Hi, I thought this might help. 

In device manager the driver properties of the tap adaptors showed that it was installing from 

C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository and with folder names staring with oemwin2k.inf_amd64_

Not to sure if I should do this but what the heck I got nothing to loose, so I set a restore point before I deleted the folders. 

So I thought I had won, and I was just checking to see if they had gone permanently before I pressed submit and they reappeared, with the oemwin2k.inf_amd64 folders back in C:\Windows\System32\DriverStore\FileRepository.

Not sure what else to try next. I've tried everything suggested in this thread. 

Hey.

I had the exact same problem as everyone, but I think I finally found a solution for it (just did it few minutes ago, so cannot be sure, but it's the first time for a long long time that I'm able to reboot without seeing any TAP adaptor popping up in the device manager.

So, I found a thread on reddit very similar to this one and this is what I read :

"Actually I might have figured it out for my computer. I uninstalled the Microsoft Office 2011 suite and it appears to have fixed the issue. Those network adapters aren't being installed anymore."

and

"Do you happen to use AutoKMS for the activation of Microsoft Office products? KMS creates these Multiple TAP-Win32 Adapters to keep the license in check."

I hope this will work for you too.