If the latest version continues to fail, a different version of FTK Imager might be more compatible with your specific system.
If you cannot resolve the driver error and need immediate disk imaging, consider these alternatives that do not rely on problematic kernel drivers:
If the driver file is corrupted or a previous update failed, a clean reinstall often resolves the issue.
: Open a Command Prompt as Administrator and run the following commands to delete old service entries that may be blocking the new driver from starting: sc delete cbdisk sc delete cbdisk2 Note: Reboot your computer after running these commands. ftk imager could not start driver new
Note: This is generally for lab environments; be cautious when doing this on live evidence machines. 4. Supply Missing DLLs (For Portable/Lite Versions)
The most common fix on modern systems involves the Windows Security Core Isolation tool. Memory Integrity uses virtualization-based security to prevent malware from inserting malicious code into high-security processes, but it inherently blocks older variants of ad_driver.sys . Open your Windows Start Menu and type . Navigate to Device Security > Core Isolation details . Toggle the Memory Integrity switch to Off . Restart your computer to apply the changes.
If Core Isolation isn't the issue, the next step is to address Windows' driver signing policy. This needs to be done temporarily via the Advanced Startup menu, as disabling it permanently has broader security implications. If the latest version continues to fail, a
If the installed version continues to fail, the portable version of FTK Imager is often more resilient because it attempts to load the driver from the same directory rather than the system driver store.
The error message typically occurs because the Windows Core Isolation (Memory Integrity) security feature blocks the software's low-level kernel driver ( ad_driver.sys ). It can also happen if the application lacks Administrator permissions or has corrupted system dependencies .
If the driver fails consistently during a live memory dump, consider using dedicated memory acquisition tools like Magnet RAM Capture , which may use different driver methods. Forensic Focus Are you attempting this on a physical machine virtual machine like Parallels or VMware? Note: This is generally for lab environments; be
FTK Imager cannot load kernel drivers from a standard user account. Close FTK Imager completely.
To resolve the "Could not start driver" error, follow these troubleshooting steps:
If running a portable version, ensure you copy the mandatory (such as mfc140u.dll ) into the exact folder where your FTK Imager.exe resides. 3. Check for BitLocker or Device Encryption