How do I install or uninstall a Passware product?

• Install Passware Kit on Windows
• Uninstall Passware Kit from Windows
• Install Passware Kit on Mac
• Uninstall Passware Kit from Mac
• Troubleshooting

Passware Tip: Check System and Hardware Requirements before installing the Passware Kit.

Install Passware Kit on Windows

1. To install Passware Kit on Windows, right-click on the Passware icon or PasswareKit_64bit_Setup.msi and follow the on-screen instructions (Passware Kit Forensic is used as an example):
   
2. Click “Next”
   
   
    
3. Read our End-User License Agreement. If you agree, click on the checkbox “I accept the terms in the License Agreement”, click “Next”.
   
4. Choose the destination folder or leave the default one as shown on the screenshot above. If you want to install it for other Windows users on the PC, click on “Install for all users” checkbox. Click “Next”.
   
5. Enter the Product Key you have received with the order confirmation email and click “Next”. You can also skip this step and enter the Product Key later in the License Manager.
   
6. If prompted by the UAC, click "Yes" to continue the installation. Wait for the Passware Kit to install. 
   
7. Once you click on “Finish”, Passware Kit will launch and you can start the recovery process. Don't forget to subscribe to the latest news!

Passware Tip: Please check out our Quick Start Guide to learn how to use the product.

Passware Tip: Review the Activation Guide to start working with the editions that require activation.

Uninstall Passware Kit from Windows

You can uninstall our software directly from the "Add or Remove Programs" list in Windows. To do this, go to Start -> Settings -> Control Panel, locate the Passware software, click it once to reveal the options, and then click the “Uninstall” button. Follow the Windows instructions to complete the uninstallation.

There is an alternative way to uninstall the software without going to Settings. Please follow the steps below:

• Run the PasswareKit_64bit_Setup.msi installation file again. Click "Next". 
• Click the Remove button
• Follow the on-screen instructions

Install Passware Kit on Mac

1. Download the Passware Kit installation DMG file.
2. Open the destination folder ("Downloads" folder is set by default). 
   
3. Double-click on the .dmg file to open it.
4. A pop-up window with the license agreement appears. Read it carefully and click “Agree” to accept it. 
   
5. Drag the "Passware Kit..." icon to the "Applications" folder using your mouse or a trackpad. 
   
6. Once launched, click Tools | License Manager, enter the Passware Product Key and click "Add". 
    

Uninstall Passware Kit from Mac

1. Click the Finder icon in the Dock.
2. In the Finder sidebar, click "Applications".
3. Drag the Passware Kit app from the "Applications" folder to the "Trash" in the right corner of the Dock.
   Alternatively, use the right-click option:
   
4. Right-click on the Passware Kit app and select the "Move to Bin" option.
    

Troubleshooting

Q: I am getting the following error: "The procedure entry point DiscardVirtualMemory could not be located in the dynamic link library…".

Unfortunately, the latest versions of our software no longer support Windows 8.1 and older versions, including Windows Server 2012 (check System Requirements). Try installing Passware Kit on a newer Windows system.

Q: Error: "There is a problem with this Window installer package. A DLL required for this install to complete could not be run."

Possible resolution:

1. Pause the antivirus or whitelist Passware Kit for the antivirus. Try running the installation again. 
2. Go to "Properties -> Security" on the %AppData%\Local\Temp folder and give the Full control permission to "Everyone". Try running the installation again.

In order to verify and eliminate the installation problem, follow the instructions below:

• Run the installation process via console using either "Start -> open “Run” -> write “cmd” or open hte Terminal app.
• In the command window, type the following command:
  msiexec /i <full_path_to_msi> /lxv* <full_path_to_log_file>
  For example, for Passware Kit Basic, this command might look like:
  msiexec /i C:\Users\Passware\Downloads\passware-kit-basic.msi /lxv* C:\Users\Passware\Downloads\passware-msi-log.txt 
• After you click “Enter”, a “passware-msi-log.txt” file should be created.

Please send this log file to Support for analysis.

Q: Error: “The cabinet file 'PasswareKit.cab' required for this installation is corrupt and cannot be used…”

Possible resolution:    

• Delete the Passware Kit folder from C:\Program Files\Passware\Passware Kit XXXX
• Pause or turn off the antivirus software. Download the Passware Kit installation file again. 
• Reinstall the software. 

Q: Error: “The installer has encountered an unexpected error installing this package. This may indicate a problem with the package. The error code is NNNN”

Possible causes:

1. Application was not launched with Administrative rights
2. Installer does not have permissions to access the TEMP folder

Possible resolution:

• Try to run the installer with administrative permissions by following the steps below:

Step 1: Right-click the installer and select "Run as administrator".

Step 2: Click “Yes” when prompted by the User Account Control (UAC).

• The installer needs a temporary folder to store files. If your user account doesn’t have permissions for this temporary folder, you may encounter error code 2203 on your Windows 10/11 PC. 
  To resolve this, you need to take ownership of the folder.

Step 1: Press Win + R to open the "Run" dialog, then type %temp%, and click "OK" to open the Temp folder.

Step 2: Navigate back to the Local folder by clicking the up icon in File Explorer.

Step 3: Right-click on the Temp folder and choose "Properties".

Step 4: Under the Security tab, click "Advanced".

Step 5: In the pop-up window, click "Change".

Step 6: In the Select User or Group window, type Everyone in the box and click "Check Names".

Step 7: Save the changes by clicking "OK -> Apply -> OK".

• Alternatively, you can grant permissions to the Temp folder this way:

Step 1: In the Temp “Properties” window, go to “Security” and click “Edit”.

Step 2: Click “Add”, type Everyone in the box, click “Check Names” and then click “OK” to create a new account.

Step 3: In the “Permissions” section, check the “Full control” under the “Allow” column.

Step 4: Save the changes.