If you are running Windows Vista or later, do not install in C:\Program Files\ (or your local equivalent) as the program needs to write to its own directory, and this is not allowed in the C:\Program Files tree. I suggest creating an open directory:
C:\Tools\
and installing such programs to a sub-directory of that such as:
C:\Tools\SDR#\
You may want to keep different versions in different sub-directories:
C:\Tools\SDR#-1172\
C:\Tools\SDR#-1174\
or you may prefer to use sub-directories such as:
C:\Tools\SDR#\1172\
C:\Tools\SDR#\1174\
or:
C:\Tools\SDRsharp\1172\
C:\Tools\SDRsharp\1174\
You can use the C:\Tools\ directory for other radio programs as well, for example:
C:\Tools\MultiPSK
C:\Tools\COAA\PlanePlotter
C:\Tools\RTL1090\
There is an issue with Windows-8.1/64 when you try to install .NET 3.5, and it was not installed when the Windows was version 8.0. You get told that the installation failed, perhaps because you are not connected to the Internet, with error: 0x800F0906. There is a patch to resolve this issue:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/3005628
which provides a file: NDPFixit-KB3005628-X64.exe which you can run. Then use the turn Windows features on or off with the Control Panel to install .NET 3.5.
Q: 'RTLSDR / USB' is not in the Front End pull down menu and I get this message on start-up of SDR#:
"Error loading 'SDRSharp.RTSDR.RtlSdrIO,SDRSharp.RTLSDR' - Exception has been thrown by the target of invocation."
A: Joanne Dow writes: Edit the SDRSharp.exe.Config config file to uncomment the line that contains "RTL SDR / USB". Find the line. Remove the outermost decorations from both ends of the line.
Example before edit:
<frontendPlugins>
<add key="SoftRock / Si570" value="SDRSharp.SoftRock.SoftRockIO,SDRSharp.SoftRock" />
<add key="FUNcube Dongle Pro" value="SDRSharp.FUNcube.FunCubeIO,SDRSharp.FUNcube" />
<add key="FUNcube Dongle Pro+" value="SDRSharp.FUNcubeProPlus.FunCubeProPlusIO,SDRSharp.FUNcubeProPlus" />
<!-- <add key="RTL-SDR / USB" value="SDRSharp.RTLSDR.RtlSdrIO,SDRSharp.RTLSDR" /> -->
<!-- <add key="RTL-SDR / TCP" value="SDRSharp.RTLTCP.RtlTcpIO,SDRSharp.RTLTCP" /> -->
<add key="SDR-IQ" value="SDRSharp.SDRIQ.SdrIqIO,SDRSharp.SDRIQ" />
</frontendPlugins>
Example after edit:
<frontendPlugins>
<add key="SoftRock / Si570" value="SDRSharp.SoftRock.SoftRockIO,SDRSharp.SoftRock" />
<add key="FUNcube Dongle Pro" value="SDRSharp.FUNcube.FunCubeIO,SDRSharp.FUNcube" />
<add key="FUNcube Dongle Pro+" value="SDRSharp.FUNcubeProPlus.FunCubeProPlusIO,SDRSharp.FUNcubeProPlus" />
<add key="RTL-SDR / USB" value="SDRSharp.RTLSDR.RtlSdrIO,SDRSharp.RTLSDR" />
<add key="RTL-SDR / TCP" value="SDRSharp.RTLTCP.RtlTcpIO,SDRSharp.RTLTCP" />
<add key="SDR-IQ" value="SDRSharp.SDRIQ.SdrIqIO,SDRSharp.SDRIQ" />
</frontendPlugins>
See Marion's story
Note that there is a different version of Zadig for Windows XP, so be sure to use it if you are running Windows XP.
Two solutions for running unsigned drivers on Windows-7 are mentioned here:
This is a one-shot solution to allow unsigned drivers to be installed. Once installed, the drivers will continue to function without further action. Thanks to Andy at RadarGadgets for this information!
You can use the existing drivers if you disable driver signing using advanced boot mode. Then installing
You have to be careful doing this, there are also options to completely wipe your system in these menus! They are clearly labelled
After it boots back up try re-installing the driver.
See this note from Joanne, W6MKU.
Check that you have installed the audio driver for your PC!
Be aware that not all USB ports are equal. For example, you may need a USB 2.0 hi-speed port to talk to a TV USB receiver stick, but USB 2.0 full-speed actually isn't fast enough. Some USB drivers have bugs, so if a USB 3.0 port doesn't work, try a USB 2.0 port instead.
October 2015 since SDR# has been updated this only applies to any of the original versions which you may have and use on Windows XP. Early versions are not available from the Airspy site.
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 is required
You can down the Microsoft .NET 3.5 Framework here.
Failing to install the .NET Framework may result in an "Application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000135). Click OK to terminate." message when trying to run SDRSharp.exe. Another from Brian Gregory notes: "Go to Control panel, search for turn Windows Features on or off and enable Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5.1 (you do not need to enable the two sub features)". Although a report from Dick in The Netherlands says that on Win-7/64 with .NET 4.5, no installation of .NET 3.5 was required, it's possible that he had other software which had already enabled .NET 3.5. After enabling .NET, I would recommend running Windows Update, as the .NET stuff is frequently updated.