ERROR MESSAGE: “DATA EXECUTION PREVENTION”

If you click Close Message, the program quits, and Windows Error Reporting gives you the option to send an error report.

Causes:

There can be many like:-

• Due to some issues in a program/software e.g. drivers, applications, etc.

• If you have used a crack against Windows OS executables, DLL files, etc.

• Some malicious software might have harmed your system files or changed the security settings.

What is Data Execution Prevention?

Data Execution Prevention (DEP) is a security feature that can help prevent damage to your computer from viruses and other security threats. Harmful programs can try to attack Windows by attempting to run (also known as execute) code from system memory locations reserved for Windows and other authorized programs. These types of attacks can harm your programs and files.

DEP was introduced in Windows XP Service Pack 2 and is included in Windows XP Tablet PC Edition 2005, Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 and later, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008. It is also included in beta versions of Windows 7.

DEP can help protect your computer by monitoring your programs to make sure that they use system memory safely. If DEP notices a program on your computer using memory incorrectly, it closes the program and notifies you.

It's a feature that can be turned on or off, or be configured.

Turning Off DEP

You can turn off DEP completely by doing this:-

• Right click on My Computer

• Click on Properties

• Click on the Advanced tab

• Click on the Settings button in the Performance section

• Click on the Data Execution Prevention tab and make necessary settings.

Alternatively you can also do the following:-

1. Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.

2. On the Advanced tab, under Performance, click Settings.

3. On the Data Execution Prevention tab, use one of the following procedures:

   • Click Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only to select the OptIn policy.

   • Click Turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select to select the OptOut policy, and then click Add to add the programs that you do not want to use the DEP feature.

4. Click OK two times.

Configure Exceptions to DEP

If you have a program you know is genuine and that happens to cause DEP errors you can add it to the list of exceptions.

To do so, click on the Add button. And locate the software or program's ".exe" file. Let’s take “Foxit PDF reader” as an example.

In this example the program is located in "C:\Program Files\Foxit Software\Foxit Reader\Foxit Reader.exe". The final result should look something like this:

Now, the program has been added to the list of exceptions. It will not be protected by DEP, but everything else in your system will be.

However, if you get the following message while turning off the DEP for a program:-

"This program must run with data execution prevention (DEP) enabled.
You cannot turn off DEP for this program."

Then the most likely reason can be that the program is cracked or it’s not in its original form. In such a situation reinstall or replace that program with its original version. And then you can turn off the DEP for the same.

Note: In general scenario it is suggested NOT to turn off the DEP.