One important security tool in Windows 11 and Windows 10 is the Memory Integrity feature. It works in a way that keeps your system safe from unwanted changes to sensitive kernel memory. But some users find they can’t turn on the Memory Integrity setting because of an incompatible driver called zamguard64.sys. In this guide, we’ll explain what zamguard64.sys is, its connection to Zemana Antimalware, and show you step-by-step instructions on how to uninstall problem driver so that you can enable the memory integrity option again.
Also see: Memory Integrity Can’t Be Turned On (Windows 11)
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What is zamguard64.sys?
Zamguard64.sys is a system driver linked with Zemana Antimalware, a well-known security software that is able to find and remove malware. This driver is important for Zemana Antimalware to work properly as it watches over system activities and shields you from harmful software in real-time.
Although Zemana Antimalware has many useful features like proactive malware detection and behavior-based analysis, the zamguard64.sys driver can interfere with the Memory Integrity feature in Windows 11 and Windows 10, stopping you from turning it on.
Related resource: How to Uninstall Drivers in Windows 11
Checking the Memory Integrity issue
Skip this section if you already know zamguard64.sys driver is causing the issue. If you have Zemana Antimalware but aren’t sure if it’s affecting the memory integrity setting, here’s how to check that:
- Start by opening the Start menu and typing “Windows Security” to launch the Windows Security app.
- Click on “Device security” in the sidebar.
- Under “Core isolation,” click on “Core isolation details.”
- If the “Memory integrity” option is off or unavailable, it means the zamguard64.sys driver is the problem.
How to completely uninstall zamguard64.sys
To fix the problem and to be able to turn on the memory integrity feature again, you need to remove Zemana Antimalware and the zamguard64.sys driver. Here’s how you can do it:
- Press Win + X on your keyboard and choose Apps and Features or Installed apps from the menu that pops up.
- Find Zemana Antimalware in the list of installed apps and click on it.
- Hit the Uninstall button and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the uninstallation.
Linked issue: Can’t Completely Uninstall a Driver in Windows 11 (Fix)
After removing Zemana Antimalware, follow these steps to get rid of the zamguard64.sys driver:
- Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Type this command and press Enter:
sc stop ZAM_Guard
This stops the ZAM_Guard service linked to zamguard64.sys.
- Then, type this command and hit Enter:
sc delete ZAM_Guard
This removes the ZAM_Guard service from your computer.
- Finally, run this command to delete the zamguard64.sys driver file:
del /f /q c:\windows\system32\drivers\zamguard64.sys
This forcefully removes the zamguard64.sys driver from the specified location.
After all these steps, restart your computer to make sure all changes are applied.
Additional suggestion: How to Reinstall Windows Defender in Windows 11
Try enabling Memory Integrity again
After uninstalling Zemana Antimalware and getting rid of the zamguard64.sys driver, check that the Memory Integrity feature can be turned on and is working as it should.
- Go back to the Windows Security app.
- Click on Device security in the sidebar.
- Under Core isolation, click on Core isolation details.
Now, you should see the Memory integrity option. If it’s available and turned on, it means the zamguard64.sys driver has been successfully removed, and Memory Integrity is working well. Your computer now has an extra layer of defense against advanced malware.
But, if the Memory integrity option is still off or not available, you might want to go over the steps again to make sure Zemana Antimalware is fully gone and the zamguard64.sys driver has been completely removed.
One last thing
The zamguard64.sys driver, connected to Zemana Antimalware, sometimes messes with the Memory Integrity feature in Windows 11 and Windows 10. To fix this, you can try to remove Zemana Antimalware and the zamguard64.sys driver. This guide has shown you the detailed steps to take out Zemana Antimalware and the troublesome driver, so that you can turn on the Memory Integrity feature again.
But note that if you actually depend on a third-party anti-malware like Zemana Antimalware, removing it means to take away its protection. In this case, you have two choices: either install another anti-malware that works with Memory Integrity or stick with Windows Defender, the Microsoft’s built-in security tool. Ultimately, what anti-malware you choose depends on what you need and like.
