Core Isolation turned off due to WDCSAM64_PREWIN8.SYS incompatibility

Question

I have been running Windows 11 successfully on my Microsoft Surface for some time now with no problems.

Within the last day or so, I all of a sudden got a notification that Core Isolation has been disabled due to an incompatible driver, WDCSAM64_PREWIN8.SYS.

From what I can see, this driver is related to Western Digital. However, I do not have any Western Digital devices attached to my Surface, nor have I recently added/installed anything from Western Digital.

I have tried searching for this driver but have come up empty.

Answer 1

1. Select the Startbutton and type “Core isolation”.
2. Select the Core Isolation system settings from the search results to open the Windows security app.

On the Core isolation page, you’ll find Memory integrity along with the toggle to turn it on

• If you receive a notification / message says that the memory integrity can't be turn on follow the below steps.

1. Try to scan and fix.
2. If it is not solved, please click on "Review any driver incompatibilities".

3.We can see a driver or more.

4. Please note the published name here is "oem46.inf"
5. Select the Start button and type “Device Manager" and follow as shown below.

6. Select the right driver from Device manager"oem46.inf" and right click and select remove driver.

Example :-

7. System needs to be restarted after removal of the driver.

Hopefully this will solve your issues no need to install any software for this.

Answer 2

Tod,

Thanks to you and everyone else on this thread. I used Drive Store Explorer and was able to Force Delete the Western Digital Driver that was preventing my Laptop from running Core Memory Security. As an FYI, I tried using Autoruns first, but it could not find this driver.

Seriously though, IMHO, this should be a Microsoft fix. I'm a "bit technical", but could not imagine most folks could go around deleting drivers. This is for Microsoft if you're listening.

Mike

Answer 3

This post is easier to read and solved my problem. I still suggest that you should check whether you have WD hard driver before deleting the driver.

SOLVED: Core Isolation Memory Integrity Incompatible Drivers WDCSAM64_PREWIN8.SYS – Up & Running Technologies, Tech How To's (urtech.ca)

Answer 4

I solved it on Friday 09/09/2022

• Microsoft windows 11 Home, Version 10.0.220000 Build 22000
• Surface Book 3, 32.0GB
• x64-based PC

Just Uninstall the driver usingpnputil /delete-driver oem<XX>.inf

As described on the following Link:

SOLVED: Core Isolation Memory Integrity Incompatible Drivers WDCSAM64_PREWIN8.SYS – Up & Running Technologies, Tech How To's (urtech.ca)

Answer 5

Thanks! This worked for me to delete the offending driver, using a program called DriverStoreExplorer!

[SOLVED] Unable Turn On Memory Integrity | Review Incompatible Drivers | Core Isolation Issue - Bing video