Fix: Unable to install Daemon tools on Windows 7
Daemon tools had issues with its SPTD driver installation in Windows 7 earlier builds. This was fixed up to an extent with their 4.30 Lite update that includes version 1.58 of the SPTD driver.
Currently the problem most people are facing with daemon tools is that after an upgrade from Vista to Windows 7 or from Windows 7 to another new build, completely breaks the Daemon tools installation. And what’s worse is that even if you try to re-install it will keep asking to reboot endlessly. Earlier I upgraded a Vista installation to Windows 7 and faced the same problem myself, after trying various methods I finally managed to (re)install Daemon tools properly.
According to the Daemon tools site you can try to use the SPTD driver installer to uninstall DT, but it didn’t work out at all. So here’s what you should do to get Daemon tools working.
First of all if its installed use its uninstaller and restart.
1. Open regedit and navigate to the following key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\sptd
Change the value “Start” (DWORD) to 4 and restart the PC. (Now the SPTD driver will not load on next boot.)
2. Goto C:\Windows\System32\Drivers and delete(or rename) sptd.sys
3. Goto Start and type regedit
4. Navigate to the following key
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\sptd
5. Delete its sub folders and the sptd folder as well. (If you get a permissions problem just right click and select permissions and give permissions.)
6. Reboot
7. Download and install the latest SPTD layer version. (v1.60 at the time of writing)
8. Reboot
9. Install Daemon Tools 4.30. (you can install this in compatibility mode if you encounter any install errors)
Tip:Make sure to always uninstall Daemon Tools before doing a major upgrade to Windows.
Additional Links
SPTD Driver 1.58 [32bit]|[64bit] (currently included with daemon tools lite 4.30)
IMPORTANT: This procedure requires editing the registry. Make sure to make a backup your registry.
About blacknoise
Other posts by blacknoise
I;m running Windows 7 RTM Ultimate and when I go to the Registry, all the folders are there except for Stpd. Is this only a fix for Windows 7 beta? Thanks
on August 25, 2009
@Sina:
If sptd is not there(as shown in the image)that means the driver is either uninstalled or not installed properly. Now all you have to do is Check for sptd.sys in System32/Drivers and delete it and follow the tutorial
P.S There are multiple instances of Cfg and Enum in the registry. Out of these only the enum and cfg thats under the SPTD folder counts. Do not delete other instances as they have nothing whatsoever to do with daemon tools.
on August 25, 2009
^ Thanks, I now have daemon tools running fine!
on August 27, 2009
Thanks,daemon tools can be installed by following the steps.
on September 4, 2009
Thanks, good to have daemon tools on windows 7. was`nt too hard to set up.
on October 1, 2009
Blacknoise,thank you very much for your step-by-step instructions.I was not able to make it work the first time,because I am a moron that has trouble following instructions to the letter,but I followed EVERY step exactly the second time,and now Daemon tools has a virtual drive appearing on my Windows 7 ultimate.Again,thank you very much.
on November 11, 2009
It works! Thanks a lot!
on November 19, 2009
there were so many ’solutions’ to this problem but none of them worked. thank you for your elaborate step-by-step instructions!
on February 27, 2010