SOLVED: Core Isolation Memory Integrity Incompatible Drivers WDCSAM64_PREWIN8.SYS

If you are trying to tighten up your security by adding Virtualization-Based Security (aka VBS) to your Windows 11 you might find this error:

Core Isolation  Memory Integrity
Incompatible Drivers WDCSAM64_PREWIN8.SYS

Driver date: 11/29/2017
Driver version: 1.2.0.0

Published name: oem26.inf

This is an old driver that ships with both Windows 10 and Windows 11 and very few people need it.  In fact we have never run into a situation of any machine using WDCSAM64_PREWIN8.SYS .

Fortunately, it is very easy to remove:

  1. RIGHT click on the START button and select WINDOWS TERMINAL (ADMIN)
    • If you are on Windows 10, select POWERSHELL (ADMIN)
  2. You can then list all of the drivers on your computer using pnputil /enum-drivers and find the one with WDCSAM64_PREWIN8.SYS or you can just look at the error message.  In my case the driver that needs to go is OEM26.INF
  3. Uninstall the driver using pnputil /delete-driver oem<XX>.inf

You do NOT need a reboot so you can immediately retry to enable CORE ISOLATION and you should see a prompt to reboot once Core Isolation > Memory Integrity is turned ON.

View Comments

  • Thank you for this post. This is still a fairly common problem, but your post is the only solution that actually works - even the Microsoft knowledge base was useless on this issue.

    • I have two wdsam.inf drivers, oem0.inf and oem6.inf. I have an internal Western Digital drive and and external one. Any hints about which driver needs to be deleted?

      • Which driver do you suggest deleting (one is for my C:\ drive, one is for an external USB drive that I still use)? Will I still be able to use the external drive?

        Published Name: oem0.inf
        Original Name: wdcsam.inf
        Provider Name: Western Digital Technologies
        Class Name: WDC_SAM
        Class GUID: {8496e87e-c0a1-4102-9d8d-bd9a9b8b07a9}
        Driver Version: 01/19/2011 1.0.9.0
        Signer Name: Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher

        Published Name: oem6.inf
        Original Name: wdcsam.inf
        Provider Name: Western Digital Technologies
        Class Name: WDC_SAM
        Class GUID: {8496e87e-c0a1-4102-9d8d-bd9a9b8b07a9}
        Driver Version: 07/06/2020 4.55.25.661
        Signer Name: Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher

      • JFYI, here's the complete driver info:

        Published Name: oem0.inf
        Original Name: wdcsam.inf
        Provider Name: Western Digital Technologies
        Class Name: WDC_SAM
        Class GUID: {8496e87e-c0a1-4102-9d8d-bd9a9b8b07a9}
        Driver Version: 01/19/2011 1.0.9.0
        Signer Name: Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher

        Published Name: oem6.inf
        Original Name: wdcsam.inf
        Provider Name: Western Digital Technologies
        Class Name: WDC_SAM
        Class GUID: {8496e87e-c0a1-4102-9d8d-bd9a9b8b07a9}
        Driver Version: 07/06/2020 4.55.25.661
        Signer Name: Microsoft Windows Hardware Compatibility Publisher

  • bonjour, soucis idem resolu parfaitement... merci

    hello, problems ditto solved perfectly... Thank you

  • I used this method and it worked to get rid of the file. My issue is, I still can't turn on the Memory integrity, due driver incompatibilities. I have restarted my computer and still same issue. When I look to resolve any incompatibilities there are no drivers listed.

  • same result - "one or more devices using the same specified INF". Without oem-number : "the specified file is not installed oem inf."

  • I also had the same issue where it was telling me that I could not delete the driver. But if you put a space, then type /force it will delete the driver without issue. Just copy this command and replace the with your specific INF number. pnputil /delete-driver oem.inf

  • I had the same message as Don when trying to remove driver oem47.inf in Windows 11 (Western Digital MyBook)

  • I tried the above solution but got the following message: Failed to delete driver package: One or more devices are presently installed using the specified INF. Suggestions?

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Published by
Ian Matthews

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