Click (or look at the bottom of the Compatibility tab) and check the box for Run as administrator . Click Apply and OK . Method 2: Disable Windows Memory Integrity (Core Isolation)
Troubleshooting "FTK Imager Could Not Start Driver" Error The error typically occurs when the software lacks administrative privileges, faces strict Windows Kernel DMA protection, or is missing essential Microsoft Visual C++ redistributable dependencies. This failure halts critical digital forensics tasks like low-level disk imaging, mounting forensic containers, or conducting live memory triage. ftk imager could not start driver new
Some users report that the error points explicitly to "driver new" rather than a named driver like ewf . This often indicates that FTK Imager is failing to call the StartService Windows API for a driver it just dynamically generated. Click (or look at the bottom of the
Hold down the key while clicking Restart in the Windows Start Menu. This failure halts critical digital forensics tasks like
Remember: Digital forensics requires low-level access that modern operating systems inherently distrust. Understanding how drivers interact with Windows security—and how to gracefully work around those safeguards on your own authorized machines—is an essential skill for any investigator.
This error typically appears immediately after launching the application or when attempting to acquire a physical drive or logical volume. It prevents the software from accessing disks in their raw, physical form, effectively crippling the most critical function of the tool: disk imaging.
Completely uninstall your current version of FTK Imager via the Windows Control Panel.