Polemaster camera not recognized on Windows 11 despite working on Windows 7

QHYCCD PoleMaster
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Peter Ledlie avatar
Peter Ledlie avatar

I have a Polemaster camera that I bought around 5 years ago. I used it with my old Laptop (Windows 7), and SharpCap. It worked great and still does with that laptop. I recently purchased a new laptop (Window 11 home), installed the driver/App package from the website, and the program will not recognize the camera. I have tried uninstalling, and reinstalling, to no avail. I turned off the power saving USB function, tried swapping USB cables etc. I can see it in Device Manager as Astroimaging equipment so the computer knows it’s there. I could use it with the Windows 7 machine, but it is soooo slow. :-)

Appreciate any suggestions,

Peter Ledlie

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Paul Larkin avatar
Paul Larkin avatar

Hi, Peter.

I have no ‘fixes’ for you, just to say that mine works fine on my Mele 4C running Windows 11 and polar aligning with SharpCap. So your setup should be OK, notwithstanding something has clearly gone awry.

No doubt someone will have a fix for you soon.

Cheers.

Paul

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noon avatar
noon avatar

Yeah, so this is an issue with Win11.
You can try to download an updated driver but there is also this:

Settings > Privacy & Security > Device Security > Core Isolation > Memory Integrity —> OFF

Realize this bypasses some windows security settings and decreases the protections it has to offer.

Microsoft documents that Memory integrity can prevent older/incompatible kernel-mode drivers from loading (“A driver can’t load on this device”), and that turning off Memory integrity is one workaround (with security warnings).


If you do this and all of a sudden the Polemaster works, you can make the decision whether you want the core isolation protections or if you want to use Polemaster. QHY has pretty much acknowledged as much:

On QHY’s official Download page, under PoleMaster Support → PoleMaster for WINDOWS → System Driver, QHY includes the note:

  • “Solved the problem of unsuccessful driver installation due to memory integrity settings under Win11 system”

    Personally I have not found it solved… but I haven’t tried that new driver yet… I have had to turn off Memory Integrity to use it consistently, but I also haven’t checked lately to see if there is an update I can try. Works perfectly fine with Memory Integrity off.

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noon avatar
noon avatar

Here is the new driver version mentioned above. I’m trying it now… I’ll let you know how it goes. If you don’t like clicking on links, I get it… it is also here: https://www.qhyccd.com/download/

Go to Polemaster Support on the left
To the far right of System Driver you should see “Latest Version”
That’s the one you want.

When you Extract All from the downloaded .zip file run this one:
QHYCamerasDriver-V25.04.10.1516-For-Windows10-NewIO

I turned Memory Isolation back on except that I have to reboot my computer for it to take effect and I’m in the middle of shooting, so it will have to wait till the AM.

Recommend just trying the new driver before you mess with Memory Isolation… and apologies for making you follow me through that whole journey.

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Alejandro Moreschi avatar
Alejandro Moreschi avatar

noon · Jan 27, 2026, 05:53 AM

Yeah, so this is an issue with Win11.
You can try to download an updated driver but there is also this:

Settings > Privacy & Security > Device Security > Core Isolation > Memory Integrity —> OFF

I did that to solve the same problem with the QHY5ii-m and it worked on my notebook and mini pc.

noon avatar
noon avatar

Update
I rebooted my computer this morning after I turned on Memory Integrity and installed the “Latest Version” driver (that I mentioned above)…

and the Polemaster works once again!
Peter I recommend you try that course of action.

Note: Do not download the AllInOne driver pack… it does not include the Polemaster Driver… You have to download the Polemaster Driver “Latest Version” specifically.

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Rich Sky avatar
Rich Sky avatar

same issue, and you must register manually the associated dll driver. Cheers

Carastro avatar
Carastro avatar
I can't use Polemaster on W11 either.   Luckily I still have old W10 and W7 laptops that I use outdoors for imaging.  But have made a note of the useful info above, but I am no Whizz with IT stuff, so might need some assistance, should I ever need to use my W11 outdoors.

Carole