: A "zombie" service from a previous version or failed install can block new instances. Run these commands in a Command Prompt as Administrator to force-remove them: sc stop WinDivert sc stop WinDivert1.4 depending on your version) sc delete WinDivert Clear the Registry
and runs: pnputil /enum-drivers | findstr WinDivert → No active drivers found, confirming it’s a stale lock. : A "zombie" service from a previous version
If the sc delete command didn't work, you might need to manually remove the service entry from the Windows Registry. Press Win + R , type regedit , and hit Enter. : A "zombie" service from a previous version
: Some antivirus or firewall software (like Sophos) is known to block the WinDivert driver. Temporarily disabling these may allow the driver to load. Test-Signing Mode : A "zombie" service from a previous version