Environment : Any Windows 7 client with maximum network filters allowed
There maybe instances when VIA installation fails due to problem in installing VIA driver with error code 0x8004a029. This error occurs if there are too many network filtering applications that OS can handle.
Sample Logs from VIA logs (filename :: aninst.txt)
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Feb 26 10:33:51.974 26fc TRACE netcfgapi 399 Install finished...
Feb 26 10:33:51.975 26fc ERROR netcfgapi 408 Install error 0x8004a029
Feb 26 10:33:51.975 26fc ERROR netcfgapi 341 hrInstallComponent error 0x8004a029
Feb 26 10:33:51.975 26fc ERROR aninsthelper 290 Couldn't install the network component
Feb 26 10:33:51.980 26fc INFO aninsthelper 314 InstallSpecifiedComponent return 0x8004a029
Feb 26 10:33:51.980 26fc ERROR aninsthelper 455 InstallSpecifiedComponent error 0x8004a029
Feb 26 10:33:51.980 26fc INFO aninsthelper 463 ANInstallDriver return -1
Feb 26 10:33:51.980 26fc ERROR aninsthelper 1674 Failed Installing IM driver -1
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Cause ::
Microsoft limits the number of network filters which can be installed on Windows OS. For Windows ; the hard limit is set at 14 while the default is set to 8. When the set value is already reached; new driver wouldn't be able to install and fail with above error code.
Resolution ::
1) If possible; uninstall other software which might have installed these network drivers. It is always recommended to keep the system clean by removing the software that is not being used. It is also a general understanding that many VPN like software have trouble interoperating with each other in a single system (even when they are disabled not running ).
2) Increase the maximum number of network filter drivers that can be installed in the system by changing the value in the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Network\MaxNumFilters. Windows 7 is hard coded to allow 14 filter drivers, but the above registry sets the limit to 8 by default. You can adjust the amount up to 14.